City Council will discuss contract for search firm

Published 1:59 am Monday, November 3, 2014

Salisbury City Council will review the contract for a search firm chosen to assist in finding a new city manager during its meeting Tuesday.

The contract with Developmental Associates LLC states the city will pay $17,500 for the company’s services. Developmental Associates will build a list of candidates for council to review.

The contract states the city can choose to have the firm conduct an “emotional intelligence assessment” on each candidate at a cost of $65 per candidate.

According to a document on Developmental Associates’ website, “Emotional intelligence includes the abilities to understand one’s emotions, manage those emotions effectively, interact effectively with others, and generate productive work with others.”

Part of the reason council chose Developmental Associates is that it performs the emotional intelligence assessment.

The city has been without a full-time manager since June when former City Manager Doug Paris stepped down after a lengthy closed-session meeting with council. A specific reason for why Paris left has not been given.

John Sofley, who was the assistant city manager under Paris, is currently the interim city manager.

City Council meets at 4 p.m. in City Hall at 217 S. Main Street.

In other business:

• Council will consider a municipal agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for up to $125,000 in reimbursements from the state for the cost of a planned project to put sidewalks along Jake Alexander Boulevard from Castlewood Drive to Brenner Avenue. The project is anticipated to start in March.

• Council will consider a planning board recommendation of approval for an amendment to the Conditional District Overlay for the redevelopment of Civic Park Apartments at Brenner Avenue and Standish Street.