DeKalb mayor says Jim Mason the first official candidate for city manager

DeKALB – The call was for 500 audience members.

Unfortunately for DeKalb developer Jim Mason, not even a tenth of that number attended Monday’s DeKalb City Council meeting to support his offer to step in as DeKalb’s next city manager.

In a letter to the editor submitted to the Daily Chronicle, Mason said he would like to volunteer his services as city manager for at least a year with possible expenses being worked out with city staff.

“I’m doing this as I’m afraid we might miss the chance to turn the corner to a bright and more solvent future,” Mason said Monday.

Although the turnout was not as high as Mason had hoped, DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith said the local developer has made himself the first official candidate for the job and encourages anyone interested in the position who feels they meet the necessary qualifications to contact the city.

“I respect Jim’s vigor at coming forward,” Smith said. “I thought he was very succinct and clear.”

Former City Manager Anne Marie Gaura abruptly resigned in March, about four months after the City Council narrowly approved an extension of her contract that set an indefinite term and an 8.4 percent increase in salary. As part of her resignation agreement, she received six months' salary, or $84,000, $15,100 for unused vacation time and about $9,600 in unused sick leave.

She is being replaced in an interim capacity by Patty Hoppenstedt.

Several members of the public spoke in favor of Mason stepping into Gaura’s old role.

DeKalb resident Dwayne Brown said Mason exhibits all of the qualities that make a successful businessman, such as being dedicated to make a business work, constantly generating new ideas, being willing to put in the extra hours to make a business succeed and knowing how to talk to businesses and employees. It is these same properties that Brown said could help drag the city out of its high taxation and financial quagmire.

He added that the past two city managers, Gaura and Mark Biernacki, did not generate economic growth within the city and someone is needed to make DeKalb vibrant, business friendly and a place that residents are proud of.

“If we don’t get someone who has business skills, which is exactly what a city manager needs, we’re going to be just an impoverished city,” Brown said.

Resident John Anderson echoed Brown’s comments and said the city is spiraling downhill and it would be a good move for the council to listen to Mason.

“I just think it’s great that a businessman with over 50 years of experience stepped forward to do this job,” Anderson said.

In the mean time, city staff is moving forward to fill the city manager position with the assistance of an outside recruitment firm. Human Resources Director Cris Randall sought council consensus Monday to release a request for proposal seeking qualified recruitment firms to conduct and facilitate a selection process.

The use of an outside firm was favored when the search process was outlined earlier this month. Council members also wished to see a residency requirement that would see the candidate obtain city residency within six months as opposed to the 12-month requirement that was stipulated with Gaura.

Smith said that although the city will be requesting proposals from recruitment firms, the process will not negate the idea of seeking a candidate within the city.

Mason said he will follow and be a part of the protocol in place.

Randall said if the request for proposal was released Tuesday, firm proposals would be due May 14.

The human resources department will work with the mayor and council to coordinate the recruitment process and serve as a resource and the main point of contact throughout the entire process, according to city documents.

Smith and the council ultimately will approve the selection of candidates to move through the steps of the recruitment process and make the final appointment decision.