TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Search For Public Works Director Narrowed Down

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: October 8, 2008

SEBRING - The search for a public works director to replace the city's Public Works Superintendent George Fox when he retires on Dec. 31 has narrowed down to a field of four potential candidates.

The new public works director will oversee two departments, roads, buildings and grounds and solid waste.

The city's Public Works Director Search Committee met Tuesday morning and narrowed the field to four candidates.

Since the job was posted on Aug. 1, the committee reviewed applications from 34 candidates, and at its September meeting, shortlisted it down to six people. The committee sent out questionnaires to those six, and by Friday, Oct. 3, had received back questionnaires from the four.

The following candidates will be called to a one-hour interview on or about Oct. 22: Isaac Kovner of Jupiter, Robert Miller of Lottsburg, Va.; Russell Whitehouse of Sebring and Ted Long, the city of Avon Park's public works coordinator.

However, the job is open "until filled" and new candidates for the job may still apply. It will be paid in the $54,000 to $64,000 range.

The committee is comprised of voting members John Griffin and Scott Stanley, city councilmen; City Clerk Kathy Haley; and non-voting members Mayor George Hensley, City Administrator Scott Noethlich,; Bob Hoffman, Charlotte Mann, human resource officer; and Renee Puzynski, administrative secretary.

Griffin is city council president pro-tempore and Stanley is the city's liaison to the roads, grounds and buildings department.

Mann told the committee that after a review she determined that the veterans' preference law did not apply to this job listing.

Several new applicants were reviewed Tuesday, but were not seriously considered. All but two were less than qualified.

Fox said Tuesday that he started working for the city of Sebring in 1972 and has been the superintendent of the roads, grounds and bridge department for about 22 years.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT