Ocean View search committee continues to receive resumes

The search committee seeking a new manager for the Town of Ocean View has continued to meet weekly to discuss the committee’s procedures in reviewing prospective applicants following the Nov. 8 unanimous council vote to terminate former town manager Conway Gregory’s employment contract three months early.

At the time of the latest meeting, on Dec. 19, Finance Director and Interim Town Manager Lee Brubaker said that, as of that morning, the town had received 56 résumés.

“It did slow down,” he said of the influx of applicants. “I was expecting maybe more over the weekend.”

Brubaker said that, as per Mayor Gordon Wood’s request, he had put together three binders, which hold a log noting the applicants’ information, as well as the submitted résumés.

“I put together an Excel spreadsheet, to sign in by number. On that single sheet, I’m putting down the source of the résumés… the individual’s name, a brief summary of their background or what their current position is, and current location based on the mailing address from their résumés.”

Brubaker added that there would also be three columns at the end of the spreadsheet, titled “yes,” “no” and “maybe,” for committee members to use regarding whether or not they find the applicant to be a promising candidate.

He noted that all résumés, as they are received, are logged in the spreadsheets and copies are placed in the binders. He added that the Town is aware of the importance of confidentiality for the applicants and that all copies and binders are kept locked up in the town manager’s office.

“My idea was that, with that checklist… when you then get together after [the Jan. 3. deadline for submissions]… just do the general consensus.”

According to Brubaker, a substantial portion of the applications received did not include a cover letter or salary data, both of which were requested within the advertisement seeking applicants.

“I think a cover letter is critical, because it shows how someone can tap-dance around their experience, compared to what we’re asking for in the ad. So if there’s no cover letter or salary data, I’m just making a handwritten note on the first page of the résumé.”

All those who apply for the vacant town manager position will receive a letter or email, in kind, informing them that their application was received.

Wood said he had prepared a preliminary set of questions for the first round of applicant interviews and distributed the list to the committee, as well as to Town Solicitor Dennis Schrader, who added questions regarding skills.

He also said that he believed that, although the Town has created a job description for the town manager position, he believes the committee should consider what their ideal candidate would be.

“What is the ideal candidate? What is the person – it’s either Superman or Wonder Woman – who we would like to hire? I sat down and wrote this based upon experience… We can use that in the executive session,” said Wood.

Councilman Tom Sheeran said that, while hiring an ideal candidate would be the best possible situation, it was not realistic.

“I was thinking the ideal candidate is going to be hard to come by. We’re not going to find the ideal candidate,” he said.

The committee planned to meet Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the Wallace A. Melson Municipal Building following the Jan. 3 cutoff date for applications, to review submitted résumés in an executive session.