Council delays decision on hiring search firm for city manager position

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

With city manager Daphne Hooper leaving her position at the end of this week, the Fernley City Council at a special meeting April 27 appointed deputy city manager Patrick Marsh to serve as interim city manager.

However, at Wednesday’s meeting, the council delayed a decision on entering into a contract with a search firm to help find Hooper’s permanent replacement. When approving the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, the council approved a motion by Fran McKay to remove the agenda item for discussion on the recruitment process for a city manager or chief operating officer, which included a job description, resolution for the hiring process, and organizational chart. Councilman Ray Lacy then requested the next item, related to approving a contract with Management Partners for the recruitment of a replacement city manager, asking that the seek out more proposals from other search firms. The removal of both of those items from the agenda was approved.

McKay also requested the council hold a workshop to discuss the city manager’s position at 4 p.m. May 18, before that evening’s council meeting at 5 p.m.

Hooper’s last day is Friday. She resigned to take a position as Director of Community Indigenous Relations in the president’s office at the University of Nevada, Reno.