TEQUESTA VILLAGE MANAGER SEARCH ENTERING HOME STRETCH
3 candidates here this week; decision to be made Sept. 4.
TEQUESTA — The village’s search for a new manager is entering the home stretch.
Three candidates, who are bidding to replace retiring manager Michael Couzzo, will visit the village this week for interviews, meetings and tours.
They are Adam Cruz, the former business administrator for the city of Perth Amboy, New Jersey; Lawrence McNaul, the city manager for West Liberty, Iowa; and Robin Gomez, the city manager for Fairmont, West Virginia.
The candidates were among 61 who applied after a national search began in June.
The list was narrowed to 15 in mid-July, and then to six after a special council meeting July 25, but one dropped out soon after. Former Wellington and Delray Beach assistant city manager Francine Ramaglia and Timothy Day of Cape Coral dropped out Tuesday.
The remaining three will be interviewed by the council today at the village’s Emergency Operations Center. Interviews begin at 8 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. They are open to the public.
On Thursday, the candidates will have meetings with each of the five village council members, take a tour of the village and have lunch with senior staff. They also have been invited to attend the regular council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m.
On Friday, the council will hold a special meeting at 2:30 p.m. It also is open to the public.
A final decision will be made Sept. 4 at a special council meeting, village spokesperson Lori McWilliams said.
The council will weigh a variety of factors in selecting its new village manager, McWilliams said. Among those factors are leadership, management and communication skills, and creativity.
“They have to have the ability to think outside of the box and offer fresh ideas to do things in a new and better way,” McWilliams said. “The council is looking for someone who’s going to be visible within the village, someone who’s going to get out there and meet and talk to residents and the business community, and provide outreach and communication.”
The new manager will earn a salary of $165,000, McWilliams said.
Couzzo, a former village manager in Miami Shores, has served 18 years in the same position in Tequesta. His last day is Dec. 31.
“Eighteen years is a long time for a manager,” McWilliams said.