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6 finalists for city manager job

Candidates come from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Texas, Illinois and Indian Rocks Beach.

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published November 9, 2005

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH - The search for a permanent city manager attracted more than 30 candidates - a list that the city's consultant recently narrowed to eight finalists.

Two of those finalist have withdrawn, one to accept another position and the other because the salary offered would be "too low" to be able to afford to live in the area.

The city is offering a salary between $70,000 and $100,000. The city's previous city manager, John Coffey, earned $69,672 a year, and his interim replacement, Al Grieshaber, is being paid the equivalent of a $78,000 annual salary. When $1,900 in monthly housing and car allowance and moving costs are added, the city is paying him $52,784 for the term of his six-month contract, which expires at the end of January.

The city's consultant, Colin Baenziger, is conducting background checks on the remaining six candidates and recommends the commission conduct formal interviews early next month.

Each candidate will be interviewed "one on one" with individual commissioners, as well as publicly before the entire commission. An evening reception will give residents a chance to meet the candidates in an informal setting. Baenziger is suggesting a final selection could be made at a special commission meeting Dec. 5.

The list of finalists includes interim City Manager Al Grieshaber, who was hired last August by a commission split over his lack of extensive experience and mixed reviews from his former employers. Before becoming Sanford city manager in 2003, Grieshaber was city attorney for Albany, Ga., for 12 years. He is retired from the U.S. Marines as a lieutenant colonel after serving in a series of legal posts, including as executive assistant to the commanding general of Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan. He holds a law degree from Washburn University, as well as a master's degree from Georgetown University and a bachelor's degree from Penn State.

Grieshaber left Sanford following his controversial firing of an assistant city manager - an act that was opposed by the city's civil service commission. One of his most vocal opponents became the Sanford mayor in March.

Grieshaber replaced former City Manager John Coffey, who resigned his post in Indian Rocks Beach after months of controversy over his firing of popular building official Steve Andrews. Andrews was rehired following a formal commission investigation of the Coffey's decision.

The other city manager candidates under consideration:

- Robert G. Anckaitis - manager of Palmer Township. He served as manager of Lower Saucon Township. Both are located in Pennsylvania. Previously, he served 24 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. While in the service, he was a commanding officer in Bamberg, Germany, a teacher/facilitator for graduate level training at Fort Leavenworth, academic director of recruiting training and a personnel recruiting manager. Anckaitis has managed municipal budgets up to $11-million and military budgets up to $20-million. He holds a masters degree in administration.

- Robert S. Boxwinski - retired city manager. He last served as village administrator for Lincolnwood, Ill., a mature, affluent suburb of Chicago. He previously served as city manager in Streamwood, Ill., and Columbia Heights, Minn. He also was director of administration for the Hennepin County Park Reserve District in Plymouth, Minn.; administrator for Walpole, Mass.; and town accountant and assistant town manager for Plainville, Conn. He holds a masters degree in public administration from the University of Hartford.

- Rick Conner - director of engineering for El Paso, Texas. Since 1995, he served as director of public works in Palm Beach, Nashville and Bryan, Texas. Previously, he was city manager in Portland and Marble Falls, Texas, and held administrative positions in public works, engineering and planning in various Texas cities. He holds bachelors degrees in civil engineering and business administration and enrolled in graduate programs in civil engineering and computer science.

- Arthur J. Sciorra - village manager for Cassopolis, Mich., since 2000. Previously, he served as village manager for Horseheads, N.Y., and held several economic development and policy planning positions in Canada. He has completed graduate studies in public administration at the State University of New York.

- Daryl K. Shrum - town manager in Winter Park, Colo., for 18 years. Winter Park is a ski resort that attracts more than a million visitors annually. Some 85 percent of the town's home owners live there part time. Before taking the Winter Park post in 1986, Shrum owned and operated a civil engineering, land planning and surveying services company and was planning director for the city of Grand Junction and Mesa County. He holds a masters degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Colorado.

[Last modified November 9, 2005, 00:39:17]