Conneaut council sets standards for manager

By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

July 17, 2008 10:58 pm

— CONNEAUT — City Council has found something it can agree on: the qualities it will seek in Conneaut’s next city manager.
Council wants a candidate who is energetic, creative and a self-starter able to delegate, with good communications and people skills, members said at a work session Wednesday night.
“I guess I’m asking for Superman,” said Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell.
The city will advertise the position in trade journals, newspapers and on the Ohio Municipal League Web site, members said. Resumes will be accepted through Aug. 25.
Council is looking to replace Douglas Lewis, who resigned in May to become assistant city manager in Painesville. Edward Somppi is serving as interim manager but doesn’t qualify for a full-time role because he doesn’t possess the college degree as stipulated in the city charter.
A review of the city budget will determine whether council can hire a consulting firm to help the selection process.
“My preference is to hire a professional (consultant), but I don’t know if we have the money,” said Councilman-at-Large Chris Castrilla.
Council has no choice but to hire; the decision is too important to make without outside help, said Councilman-at-Large Jacob Chicatelli. “We can’t afford not to have the money to do it,” he said.
Council is up to the task, said Council President James Jones.
“The burden of responsibility is on the seven of us,” he said. “If we can’t afford (consultants), we’ll do it in-house.”
A salary range may be included in the advertisement, but members weren’t too confident they could attract a veteran manager for Conneaut-level wages.
“We won’t get a seasoned manager for what we can pay,” said Ward 2 Councilman Charles Lewis. “We wind up running a training camp for managers.”
Council’s timetable for applications virtually assures that an interim manager will be needed for another few months. Somppi could be appointed to another three-month term when his contract expires in early August.