Indian Wells City Council Seeks New City Manager, Invites Public Input

The Indian Wells city council is in the beginning stages of its search for a new city manager, and on Wednesday, the council held a special meeting laying out it’s process to find candidates.

This is happening after Greg Johnson resigned last Thursday.

The council hopes to hire an interim city manager as soon as possible, and then eventually bring someone in for the long-term.

Residents said they are looking for experience, and for someone willing to work for far less than Johnson did.

City council members took heat from long-time residents who claimed that Indian Wells overpaid Johnson.

“That’s ridiculous,” said Dana Cephas, who moved to Indian Wells in 2009. “254,000?”

Johnson resigned on Thursday following accusations that he contributed to businessman and resident Haddon Libby being fired from First Foundation, after making a public comment about compensation during an August council meeting.

“I think there are a lot of people in this city that are intimidated by what happened to Mr. Libby,” said Jacqueline Bradley, who has lived in Indian Wells for 15 years. “They’re afraid to speak out.”

Director of personel and public safety, Mel Winsor, is the acting city manager.

He recommended to the council that it hire an interim manager within 30 days.

He said hiring a recruitment firm would be the best way to go, or have city staff bring in candidates.

“Unless they’re going to take everyone who is in the audience, and put us all on the search committee, we don’t need to hear all those things,” said Michael Santin, a resident of more than 11 years.

By a vote of 4-0, the council passed a motion to bring in at least four firms for an interview as soon as possible.

Cephas was among dozens of residents who attended the special meeting, and he believes the council is moving too fast on finding a replacement, and that it should focus on restructuring the future city manager’s salary and benefits first.

According to Mary Roche, a councilwoman, 5,000 residents live in Indian Wells full time, and the city employs 29 people.

“Unfortunately, I think the city council just doesn’t get it,” said Cephas. “They don’t know how to manage a business.”

The controversy surrounding the city manager’s position also isn’t the only political issue upsetting residents.

A petition is also circulating around town, calling on residents to change the way the mayor and mayor pro-tem are selected.

Councilman Douglas Hanson was stripped of his mayor pro-tem title by his colleagues after just six months earlier this year.

The question is, was it politically based? I believe it was,” said Hanson. “But, it is what it is.”

The petition going around needs 450 signatures to put the issue on the 2012 ballot.

It intends to amend the city charter back to the old mayoral rotation system based on seniority.

Council members wouldn’t be able to change that by a majority vote — only residents could change the charter.

“I do believe it’s the way to go,” said Hanson.

Johnson’s resignation is effective Nov. 4.

The next council meeting is the day before.