FLORENCE -- The Florence City Council took a step forward in their search for a permanent city manager with the selection of a search firm during Monday's special meeting.
Colorado Springs-based Columbia ltd was selected in a four-to-three vote Monday after an hour-and-a-half workshop and brief special meeting.
Columbia ltd was founded in 2016 by Andrew Gorgey, a 35-year resident of Colorado and former deputy district attorney, county attorney, county manager, and acting city manager for numerous city governments. Since its 2016 founding, the company has successfully placed more than 90 city government officials in a variety of positions.
During the council's Zoom interview with Gorgey, he displayed a well-versed knowledge of the city's past turmoil, including the mass resignation of the former council in March, the August special election, and former city manager, Mike Patterson's, pending sentencing in January 2023.
"With respect to me and my company, I really believe in candor," he said. "You'll never have to wonder what I'm thinking or where I'm coming from and I think that part of the key to the success of your recruitment is to shine the light in full, and brightly, on every one of the challenges that I've made reference to."
Gorgey is already working with the Fremont County Commissioners in their search for a new county manager after Sunny Bryant's resignation and also with the city of Gunnison as they search for a new city manager.
"This is not the first time I've had to recruit into negative headlines," he added, alluding to the persistent drama that has plagued the city since Patterson's abrupt termination last August. "This is always your recruitment, it's not my recruitment."
Columbia ltd's services would come with a one-year warranty, starting on the first day of employment, of the new city manager and includes three on-site visits, two full-day visits, and one half-day visit.
Gorgey communicated to city council members that he hoped to start conducting initial interviews with each city council representative and chief city staff members within a week to build a profile of the ideal city manager. After the initial profile is built, a kick-off meeting also will be held (date pending) for the community to attend and voice their desires and hopes for a new city manager.
Though no finite number could possibly be given, Gorgey hopes to bring at least 12 to 18 possible candidates to the initial preliminary screening interview with him and then whittle it down to approximately 10 for the council to consider. The actual numbers are not possible to predict at this time, however.
The proposed timeline for the entire search and hiring process is to be between 12 to 14 weeks, according to Gorgey.
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