Council appoints Altick as interim city manager

By Robert Perea

As the city’s search for a new city manager progresses, the Fernley City Council on Sept. 17 approved the appointment of Deputy City Manager Lydia Altick as Acting City Manager.

The council voted 4-1 to approve Mayor Neal McIntyre’s request for confirmation to appoint Altick’s during the recruitment process, with councilmember Joe Mendoza opposed. 

McIntyre had been acting as the City Manager since the resignation of Ben Marchant in May during a budget dispute, but he said it became too difficult to juggle being the mayor and run the city’s day-to-day operation.

“It just got to be too much,” McIntyre said. “Ms. Altick is more educated in the management part of running the city than I am.”

Section 2.02.07 of the city’s Municipal Code states that “During a vacancy of the city manager's position, the mayor, with confirmation by council, shall appoint an acting city manager. The acting city manager shall exercise the full authority of the manager during the temporary absence or vacancy of the city manager's position.”

McIntyre said he initially didn’t think it would take this long to recruit city manager candidates.

McIntyre began to update the council on the recruitment process being handled by CPS HR Consulting, but Deputy City Attorney Brandi Jensen told him it wasn’t on the agenda. She said McIntyre could do it under his report, if he wanted to return to that agenda item, but McIntyre instead told the council that if they wanted an update, they could speak to him personally.

Mendoza expressed disappointment that the council hadn’t been kept informed about McIntyre’s desire to appoint an acting city manager.

“I would have appreciated more of a dialogue how we were going to move forward as opposed to just throwing somebody on the agenda,” Mendoza said.

CPS HR Consulting has begun advertising the position through various management websites and publications.

According to a brochure produced by CPS HR Consulting, the minimum requirements for the position include a Bachelor’s Degree in public administration or a closely related field and five years of city or other public agency administrative leadership experience including managing staff and programs.

“The ideal candidate will foster strong relationships with council, staff and residents and practice open and transparent communication. With proven expertise in fiscal discipline, infrastructure and economic development, they will deliver results that will position the City of Fernley as a regional hub for large organizations while honoring Fernley’s small town character,” the brochure states.

The brochure also states that a resume, cover letter and references should be submitted by Oct. 27.