The Shawano Common Council recessed a special meeting Friday without any decision on filling the vacant post of public works director and will reconvene Monday for further discussion.
Three finalists for the job met with city officials Friday for a final round of interviews. They were also introduced to department heads and took a tour of the city and the Public Works Department.
There were expectations a job offer might be made Friday, but city officials decided to delay their decision.
City Administrator Brian Knapp said the council wanted time to think it over given that officials will have to choose from three very strong candidates.
The council will continue its meeting in closed session at City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer St., at 7:30 a.m. Monday, just prior to the Finance Committee meeting.
The position has been vacant since April when Rick Stautz retired after 25 years in the job. Mary Nordin is currently serving as interim public works director at $50 an hour.
Stautz’s salary was $83,449 when he retired. The city advertised for the post with a salary range between $75,000 and $82,000.
City officials started a new search for job candidates in June after an applicant who was offered and accepted the position decided to take a job elsewhere.
The city hired Oshkosh-based consulting firm Public Administration Associates, LLC, to conduct the new search, this time with a broader job description and a new title of assistant city administrator/public works coordinator.
There were more than 20 applicants before the candidates were narrowed down to the three finalists.
Knapp said public works will be the primary focus of the job, but the new title more accurately reflects the working relationship between the city administrator’s office and public works.
Knapp said Stautz’s duties changed significantly over the course of his 25 years with the Department of Public Works and encompassed aspects of community planning, economic development, and liaison work with the county on solid waste and wastewater issues.
According to the job description as originally advertised, the public works director was to be responsible for administering a $6.6 million operating budget and supervising all of the department’s activities and programs. Those included engineering, streets and transportation, storm water, the water and sanitary sewer utility, solid waste and recycling collection, and the landfill.
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