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Published on 03/16/1998 All articles from this issue

60 apply for city manager position

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Approximately 60 candidates applied for the city manager job in Los Altos by the March 6 deadline, said Mayor Kris Casto.

Rich Perry, of the Sea Ranch-based search firm of Hughes, Perry & Associates hired by the city council for the city manager search, reviewed all the applications and selected the top 24.

This week Perry is interviewing each of the 24, "preferably in person," Casto said, and sent a questionnaire to each with "can-you-do-the-job" type questions.

"First it gets down to the candidates who would be good city managers, then you look for the fit," Casto said.

The recruitment brochure sent to all candidates describes the ideal city manager as having several characteristics.

First, the city manager will be "intelligent and ethical" and will work effectively with a population "well educated and participatory."

The person will have a "strong customer service orientation," focus on quality and welcome contributions of volunteers and non-profit organizations, according to the brochure.

The ideal person "inspires as well as delegates to competent staff rather than controlling or micro-managing," states the brochure.

Perry wrote the brochure after interviewing council members and department heads and reviewing letters sent in by citizens. Casto and Councilman Francis La Poll then "got together and gave the narrative a little different flavor," Casto said, "with some wordsmithing."

During an April 8 closed session, council members will review the top 10-12 candidates and "call in those we want to interview," Casto said.

None of the applicants are from out of state.

Bill Zaner, a retired city manager from Palo Alto, began March 14 as interim city manager in Los Altos.