Hutto to seek bids from municipal search firms for permanent city manager hiring process

The city of Hutto has taken the next step in its search for a permanent city manager, authorizing city staff to create a request for proposal, or RFP, in order to receive bids from municipal search firms interested in Hutto's hiring process. Hutto City Council unanimously approved the motion calling for an RFP at its Jan. 2 meeting, a draft of which will then be reviewed and approved by council prior to receiving applicants.

The RFP is not specifically for individual candidates, but for search firms that specialize in vetting and providing eligible candidates for consideration. If the city finds an individual candidate outside of its selected firm, council can recommend the candidate be vetted by the firm as part of its agreement.

“I think working with a search firm gets us more community input on the whole process,” Mayor Doug Gaul said. “It gives us a lot more value.”

Jan. 2 marked the city's first formal introduction to Charles Daniels, Hutto's interim city manager. Daniels was approved for the position by council at its Dec. 19 meeting and will serve until a permanent candidate has been chosen.

"I’m looking forward to working with you and the council and the staff to hopefully get us back on track and make some great things happen in Hutto," Daniels said.

By working with a search firm, Gaul said city staff would not be responsible for its own background checks and vetting process and instead would work with the firm to build an analysis of the city's ideal candidate, as outlined by both community and council members.

When asked for his perspective by Gaul, Daniels said he recommended the city work with a firm to help establish the priorities it has in potential candidates.

“I think most successful searches are conducted by search firms, because they can give you a top to bottom run through of everything you need," Daniels said.

As per the motion approved by council Jan. 2, Allison Hosgood—Hutto's executive director of human resources—will draft an RFP and bring it to council for approval before it is formally sent to a list of firms. Once the city has received its bids, council will then approve an agreement with whichever firm is selected.