By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A three-member transition team this week began screening candidates who are interested in serving as interim manager for Zeeland Township.
Current Manager Josh Eggleston will leave the township Aug. 21 to go to neighboring Holland Township, where he has accepted the job of township manager.
The transition team, consisting of Eggleston, Supervisor Kerri Bosma and special legal counsel David Eberle, has been busy getting the word out on the interim manager opening.
“We have posted (the position) on our website, soliciting resumes and making phone calls to see what interest there is,” Bosma said.
The transition team began meeting with candidates for the interim manager job on Tuesday. At least five candidates were expected to meet with the team this week, Bosma said.
Eberle foresees an “expedited” search for the interim manager. After the screening, the transition team is expected to invite several candidates to be interviewed by the full board at its next meeting, which has been moved to next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. because of the Township Hall being used for elections the day before, when the board would normally meet.
Eberle said the idea is to get the interim manager in the door before Eggleston’s departure.
“We want to make they have time for a handoff (of responsibilities),” he said.
During the July 21 meeting, board members discussed what attributes they would like to see in an interim manager. While most of the board favored having a full-time person, Trustee Dave Barry said he would not rule out having a part-time interim.
“Somebody might give us a good three or four days, and that might be better than somebody (who works) five,” Barry said.
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer said the board should look for stability in a candidate - an individual who is self-motivated, driven and task-oriented.
“What I don’t think we need is someone to come in Day One and start changing things, because for God’s sake, we’ve had enough change in the last year,” Veldheer said. “We cannot handle somebody coming in and changing processes, when people are still learning processes. We need stability.
“I want a boring day, I want boring meetings, I want boring workdays. I want things to be done on time. I don’t want to have to remind somebody what their job is,” she added.
Another part of the interim search discussion involved how long this person will serve.
“You obviously don’t want a situation where it’s two years down the road and you still have the interim. I think we’re looking more of a six-to-eight-month period,” Eberle said.
Veldheer agreed, calling it “a reasonable period of time.”
Eggleston proposed a minimum of six months for the interim, simply because of the length of time it will likely take to find a permanent replacement.
“Even if you went out for a search firm today … you’d be (looking at) September or October before the job would even be advertised, you’d be interviewing in November-ish,” he said. “Most candidates that are currently in positions are going to have a 30-to-60-day notice requirement. If you started the process today, you’re looking at probably a January start date.”
Eggleston has also prepared a rough draft of a request for proposals from executive search firms who would assist the township in searching for his permanent replacement.
He proposed that the RFP be released in September with board interviews and approval of the firm expected in October.
“Spend some time with it, review it, whether it’s at the next meeting or the second meeting in August, but I think that sometime in the next 30 days … the board should try to refine this RFP, and decide what our timetable will be for issuing it publicly,” Eggleston told the board.
Zeeland Record
A three-member transition team this week began screening candidates who are interested in serving as interim manager for Zeeland Township.
Current Manager Josh Eggleston will leave the township Aug. 21 to go to neighboring Holland Township, where he has accepted the job of township manager.
The transition team, consisting of Eggleston, Supervisor Kerri Bosma and special legal counsel David Eberle, has been busy getting the word out on the interim manager opening.
“We have posted (the position) on our website, soliciting resumes and making phone calls to see what interest there is,” Bosma said.
The transition team began meeting with candidates for the interim manager job on Tuesday. At least five candidates were expected to meet with the team this week, Bosma said.
Eberle foresees an “expedited” search for the interim manager. After the screening, the transition team is expected to invite several candidates to be interviewed by the full board at its next meeting, which has been moved to next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. because of the Township Hall being used for elections the day before, when the board would normally meet.
Eberle said the idea is to get the interim manager in the door before Eggleston’s departure.
“We want to make they have time for a handoff (of responsibilities),” he said.
During the July 21 meeting, board members discussed what attributes they would like to see in an interim manager. While most of the board favored having a full-time person, Trustee Dave Barry said he would not rule out having a part-time interim.
“Somebody might give us a good three or four days, and that might be better than somebody (who works) five,” Barry said.
Treasurer Melissa Veldheer said the board should look for stability in a candidate - an individual who is self-motivated, driven and task-oriented.
“What I don’t think we need is someone to come in Day One and start changing things, because for God’s sake, we’ve had enough change in the last year,” Veldheer said. “We cannot handle somebody coming in and changing processes, when people are still learning processes. We need stability.
“I want a boring day, I want boring meetings, I want boring workdays. I want things to be done on time. I don’t want to have to remind somebody what their job is,” she added.
Another part of the interim search discussion involved how long this person will serve.
“You obviously don’t want a situation where it’s two years down the road and you still have the interim. I think we’re looking more of a six-to-eight-month period,” Eberle said.
Veldheer agreed, calling it “a reasonable period of time.”
Eggleston proposed a minimum of six months for the interim, simply because of the length of time it will likely take to find a permanent replacement.
“Even if you went out for a search firm today … you’d be (looking at) September or October before the job would even be advertised, you’d be interviewing in November-ish,” he said. “Most candidates that are currently in positions are going to have a 30-to-60-day notice requirement. If you started the process today, you’re looking at probably a January start date.”
Eggleston has also prepared a rough draft of a request for proposals from executive search firms who would assist the township in searching for his permanent replacement.
He proposed that the RFP be released in September with board interviews and approval of the firm expected in October.
“Spend some time with it, review it, whether it’s at the next meeting or the second meeting in August, but I think that sometime in the next 30 days … the board should try to refine this RFP, and decide what our timetable will be for issuing it publicly,” Eggleston told the board.
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