HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-26-2007-4eeORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 26, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. ~- ~~,.
SUBJECT: Authorization for Manager to Contract with a Personnel Search Firm(s) During
BOCC Summer Break
DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Blackmon, 245-2300
PURPOSE: To authorize the Manager to contract with a personnel search firm(s) during the
Board of County Commissioner's summer recess from June 27 until August 21, 2007 for the
vacant Emergency Services Director position and the vacant Economic Development Director
position.
BACKGROUND: Orange County currently has two vacant department head permanent
positions -the Emergency Services Director position and the Economic Development Director
position. The County Manager's Office and the Personnel Department recently completed a
hiring process for the Emergency Services Director position which included advertising,
interviewing and identification of final candidates. However, further consideration of the three
finalists for the position and additional discussions prompted the Manager to conclude the
search without a successful candidate.
For the recently-vacant Economic Development Director position, the Manager believes that it
will be a challenge to identify and secure candidates who will match well with the interests,
needs, demands, and intricacies of Orange County. The Manager is of the opinion that the
County's normal hiring process will not yield a list of candidates from which a successful
candidate can be determined.
In light of the above, the Manager proposes that the County contract with a personnel search
firm(s) to direct and guide the County in its hiring process for these two positions. As the Board
is aware, a personnel search firm was previously retained to direct the County's search and
hiring process for the County Manager. The Manager is seeking authorization to proceed at this
time rather than waiting until after the Board's summer break to present this proposal and a
possible contract, thereby losing approximately 2 months of time.
If the Board authorizes the Manager to proceed, staff will begin immediately with contacting
potential firms regarding availability, costs, timeframes, and related matters and the Manager
will sign a contract with a suitable firm(s). The Manager proposes to contract with the same
firm, if possible, for the both- positions, which may be cost-effective for the County.
Assuming retaining a firm(s) does occur, the Manager will report back to the Board in August
regarding the firm(s), costs, and the hiring process timetables.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The projected cost to contract with a personnel search firm(s) for the two
vacant positions is $25,000 to $40,000. The Manager recommends that the funding for this
effort come from the lapsed salaries from each of the departments with the vacancies being
addressed.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Authorize the Manager and staff to proceed with the steps necessary to identify a
personnel search firm(s) for the vacant Emergency Services Director position and the
vacant Economic Development Director position;
2. Authorize the Manager and staff to negotiate with the firm(s);
3. Authorize the Manager to sign a contract(s) with the preferred firm(s); and
4. Direct the Manager to report back to the Board in August regarding the firm(s), costs, and
the hiring process timetables.