Council Hires Consultant for City Manager Recruiting

by Timothy W. Scee II
Special to Newzjunky.com
Published February 14, 2012

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  The Watertown City Council voted Monday to hire a former Ogdensburg city manager to assist in the search process for a new city manager. 

In a 3-2 vote Monday evening, council members accepted a drafted proposal submitted by retired Ogdensburg City Manager John C. Krol to work as a facilitator to the council by determining a job description, marketing the position and evaluating resumes. 

Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham, who coordinated a visit from Mr. Krol during a special council meeting Feb. 7, said the retired city manager has both “local ties” and an objective opinion on the hiring process. 

“He’s local, understands the issues but he’s not part of Watertown politics and is willing to take this on at a fee structure that I think is reasonable compared to other options,” Mr. Graham said. 

Not all council members, however, agreed that a facilitator is what the legislative body needs to hire a city manager or that it should pay Mr. Krol a requested fee of $10,000.

“I just don’t believe that...there’s a need for a $10,000 facilitator,” Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith said. “Some of these functions could and should be performed by the council.”

The fee will be paid to Mr. Krol in three installments throughout the different phases of the search process. 

“I think he basically made a proposal to us based on what he thought the workload was going to be,” Mr. Graham said. 

While the mayor says he doesn’t “have any expectations” on a timeframe for hiring a new manager, the process is expected to take about 3-5 months. 

“I think there will probably be a need for some kind of interim arrangement or temporary arrangement come spring, but we’ll work on that too,” Mr. Graham said. 

The search for a future city manager comes after the council voted last month in favor of not renewing City Manager Mary M. Corriveau’s employment contract which expires April 30. 



In other business, the City Council discussed a finished proposal for its policy on alcohol sales on city-owned property, prepared by Consultant Anthony J. Casale, former chairman of the state Liquor Authority.

Todd Kirkey and Kristine Czajkowski, owners of the Watertown Wizards, listened on during the council work session as Mrs. Corriveau discussed changes in the policy. 

“The biggest difference is that the applicants have to be very up front about who is getting proceeds from the sale of alcohol,” she said. “I think if anything’s coming out of this it’s the understanding that information needs to be providing up front.”

In accordance with state Liquor Authority, regulations such a nonprofit sharing alcohol sales with another nonprofit will be accepted as long as both agencies’ names are listed. 

Mr. Graham said the new policy should help prevent “contrived” arrangements, such that a nonprofit connected with a for-profit shares its sales with the business. 

“You can’t dress it up and say, ‘It’s a contribution,’” he said. 

Official: Watertown City Council      Proposal from John Krol

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