By Pepper Fisher

SEQUIM – The Sequim City Council held a special meeting Friday to authorize the recruitment firm of Colin Baenziger & Associates (CBA) to conduct a search for candidates for City Manager.

The hiring of the firm was approved, but the motion to do so included making Councilor Keith Larkin the primary contact for managing the actual recruitment process. It was an unusual move, and contrary to the City staff recommendation that Human Resources Manager Emily Stednick be at least a co-manager of the process in order to “minimize legal risk, communication gaps and ensure an efficient process.”

Councilor Rachel Anderson made a motion of her own to table the vote until the next regular council meeting because 2 councilors, Brandon Janisse and Tom Ferrell, were not present to vote. She also made a case for giving the point of contact role to City staff instead of Councilor Larkin. No one supported her motion. A vote was taken and passed 4-1.

The 4 votes were by the same 4 councilors, Mayor William Armacost, Sara Kincaid, Mike Pence and Keith Larkin, who voted to ask for the resignation of former City Manager Charlie Bush for reasons they are still keeping from the public, citing only “philosophical differences”.

Mayor Armacost later signed a 6-month contract with then Assistant City Manager Charisse Deschenes to take over Bush’s job. A month later, the same 4 councilors voted to conduct a search for someone else.

Mayor Armacost has made the recommendation several times that the search include local applicants. The question as to whether he has someone in mind has gone unaddressed.

The cost to taxpayers of hiring CBA is $28,500. This includes all expenses, except for costs associated with bringing the finalists to interview with the City (travel, meals, hotel etc.) and any costs associated with advertising locally.