Sarasota Wants New Search For City Manager

The search for City Manager will continue after the City Commission voted to recreate a search for a new manager after it failed to come to a consensus.

"This disturbs me," Mayor Suzanne Atwell said.

The commission voted 4-1 to put the search back out after failing to agree on a candidate.

Atwell nominated Edward Mitchell, Vice Mayor Willie Shaw nominated Thomas Barwin and Commissioner Paul Caragiulo nominated James Chisholm. That led to an original vote by Commissioner Terry Turner and Shaw for Barwin, Atwell for Mitchell and Caragiulo for Chisholm.

"This is not a good way for someone to come into the city with these kind of numbers," Atwell said about the votes.

Commissioner Shannon Snyder didn't vote for any candidate and was the first to suggest the search be recreated.

"This is too big of a decision. It's too expensive of a mistake if we do it wrong," Snyder said. "I don't see a consensus at this table."

Monday morning.

Shaw had praised Barwin for his experience with community keen on architectural preservation, his policing knowledge, embracing the David Kennedy model and for not ending up in a lawsuit during collective bargaining discussions with unions.

"His style of policing is one that does not tolerate brutality or racism," Shaw said. "He has hired police chiefs who understand the importance of building community trust."

Shaw also criticized Chisholm as a choice because of the results of the decisions he makes on controversial issues.

"He often has left one side extremely dissatisfied," Shaw said, rattling off various projects that were critiqued by officials and the media.

For Mitchell, Shaw said he is disturbed by the "history of corruption in his community." 

Atwell said she preferred Mitchell for a Florida connection and it was between him and Barwin for her.

Barwin had also became a , but told Patch he pulled out of that application process because "it wasn't a good fit." , Waukesha Patch reports.

Search firm Colin Baenziger & Associates completed Sarasota's search, and a and both Baezinger and the city wanted out of the contract after a job offer was made to a finalist but the finalist declined the offer.

Sarasota's commission did not discuss if it would continue with Baezinger or choose a new search firm or any other specifics about a new search.

Baezinger, who is being paid more than $21,000, does provide a warranty where a search will be completed again until the commission is happy with a finalist. However, Sarasota's commissioners discussed about changing the perameters of the search to get different candidates, and the search firms states in its policy, including this one from Cocoa Beach, that if there are duties outside of the scope of the request for proposal, additional charges would be issued.

A citizen's review panel in Sarasota selected Edward Mitchell by one vote over Tom Barwin.

The city manager, when chosen, will take over for Interim City Manager Terry Lewis who filled in for  amid a housing fund investigation and accusations concerning spying in employee e-mail.

Turner asked if Lewis could remain on during a new search and it's unclear if that could happen.

"We'll talk later," Lewis said. "I have five bosses here and one at home."

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