BA council OKs negotiations with city manager candidates
BY ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer
Thursday, September 13, 2012
BROKEN ARROW - The City Council voted Thursday to begin salary negations with the two finalists for the city manager position.
Affion Public LLC, a management consulting firm serving as a middleman in the negotiations, will determine their interest in the job and discuss salary and benefits, city spokeswoman Stephanie Higgins said.
Dean Kruithof, city administrator of Branson, Mo., and Thom Moton, interim city manager of Greenville, N.C., are being considered.
City councilors interviewed them earlier Thursday, and the candidates met with city department heads, economic development leaders and school representatives at a reception the day before.
The City Council will announce a decision at a future meeting, Higgins said.
Mayor Craig Thurmond said Wednesday that he expects that to come within weeks because officials would like the new city manager to be in office within two months. That would allow time for the candidate to notify his current city, he said.
Affion recruited Kruithof and Moton, who were selected from among 55 applicants. The firm also recruited the city’s current police and fire chiefs.
Kruithof, who was assistant city manager of Stillwater from 1984 to 1987, has said he is familiar with Broken Arrow and has experience with the infrastructure needs of such a city. He cited Branson’s millions of tourists each year.
Moton said Broken Arrow and Greenville are similar in size and have similar needs. Greenville has about 86,000 residents, while Broken Arrow recently surpassed 100,000.
A third finalist, Gary Greer, city manager of Farmers Branch, Texas, withdrew his candidacy.
Human Resources Director Russell Gale was appointed acting city manager in April after the City Council fired David Wooden amid controversy over a proposed Indian casino.
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
