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By David McGee

Staff Writer / Bristol Herald Courier

Published: September 12, 2009

BRISTOL, Va. – Citing lower costs and the company’s familiarity with Bristol, city leaders Friday selected a search firm to help them hire a new city manager.

A split City Council voted 3-2 to select Springsted, a Minnesota-based firm with offices in Richmond, Va., to conduct the search for a replacement for retiring Bill Dennison. In the past two years, the city has retained Springsted to help hire new city directors of public works and parks and recreation.

“I based my selection on Springsted’s familiarity with Bristol and that Springsted has placed more city managers and county administrators in Virginia than the other firms,” Mayor Jim Rector said after the vote. “And they do have an office in Virginia.”

Earlier this week, council members met in separate executive sessions with three finalists for the search job – Springsted and Georgia-based Mercer Group and Slavin Management Consultants.

Vice Mayor Ernie Sprouse, who made Friday’s motion to hire Springsted, said cost influenced his decision.

“All three were very good, but cost was important and Springsted had the least bid,” Sprouse said.

Springsted’s bid was for $17,300, while Slavin’s was $22,800 and Mercer’s was $23,000.

Part of the price disparity, Rector said, was because Springsted already had developed a profile of the city during its previous search work.

The city has allocated $25,000 for the search, but officials previously said the cost might exceed that figure. Rector said they now hope the process can be completed for less than $25,000.

Councilman Guy Odum voted for Mercer, saying cost shouldn’t be the primary factor.

“I would like for the city to have someone with fresh perspective, who can look at things with fresh eyes,” Odum said. “I’m a big fiscal conservative, but in this instance, cost is probably the least important consideration we need to look at when it comes to a job as important as the city manager.”

Councilman Jim Heaney also supported Mercer, saying he believed they had more to offer.

“Mercer seemed to have a greater network, based on 20 offices in 13 states,” Heaney said. “And they offered a two-year replacement guarantee versus a one year from the others. I don’t feel one year is sufficient.”

Councilman Fred Bowman, who also voted for Springsted, said he believes most such firms function within similar networks.

“I looked at the cost, but I also looked at the good job they [Springsted] did filling our vacancies in public works and parks and rec. But it was hard because they were all good,” Bowman said.

With the selection complete, Odum said he’s ready to move on.

“We disagreed about who should conduct the search, but I plan to support Springsted 100 percent in getting us a new city manager,” Odum said.

The search for a replacement is expected to begin formally later this month and should be completed by year’s end, when the current city manager is scheduled to retire.