Normal hires consultant to help city manager search

Posted on September 6, 2017
Normal Town Council
Normal’s Town Council voted 6-to-1 Tuesday to hire a consultant to help in the city manager search. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock and Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The Town of Normal has hired a consultant who will help the town recruit a new city manager to replace the retiring Mark Peterson.

On 6-1 vote, the Town Council has approved a $20,000 contract Monday with GovHR USA of Northbrook to aid in the three-month search.

R.C. McBride cast the only ‘no’ vote.

“Certainly, there are some things we can’t do ourselves, but I’m not sure this can’t be done in a different matter more expeditiously and without the expense,” McBride said.

McBride said he’s confident the town will be able to recruit a diverse, and very deep talented pool, including internal candidates.

GovHR USA specializes in executive recruitment and had led more than 600 searches with government entities throughout the U.S.

The company’s founder and president, Heidi Voorhees, is an Illinois State University graduate who has done similar work for Bloomington.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…