UPDATE: Council Focuses On 3 'Very Different' City Manager Candidates

Ninety minutes with each of four candidates wasn't enough for what Ferndale Councilman Scott Galloway said is "maybe the most important decision, after this year's budget, we'll make."

Council interviewed four candidates for the city's permanent city manager position Saturday. Among the candidates were:

• Fred Zorn,  deputy city administrator for Southfield
• April McGrath, assistant city manager for Ypsilanti
• Matthew Tepper, assistant city manager and city clerk for Grosse Pointe Farms
• John Gabor, city manager for Marine City

"I think we have had four excellent candidates, four very talented people with different strengths," Mayor Dave Coulter said.

Interviews proceeded the same way for each of the four candidates. They lasted 90 minutes. Council asked the same handful of questions, offered Council follow-up questions and then asked the candidate if he or she had any questions or comments.

Council's questions varied from engagement with community, to union and labor negotiations, to describing management style, to what the candidate's vision for Ferndale might be.

After the interviews, there wasn't  a consensus on the strongest candidate. "Each candidate is very different with different styles," Galloway said.

Council decided to write down on a piece of paper the two candidates that stuck out the most to them. Afterward, the only clear result was that Tepper would not be considered for the position.

On Friday, various members of staff spent 30 minutes with each candidate. On Saturday, Council and those staff members in the audience discussed who would be the best fit for Ferndale's city manager.

"I'm not 100 percent ready to make a decision on one or the other or on any of them," Councilwoman Melanie Piana said.

Galloway said because the candidates are different in style and skills, Council needs to have a detailed discussion on what it wants in a city manager. "We asked (the candidates) what their vision was; we should figure out our vision for city manager," he said.

For the search, the council wanted candidates who demonstrated three things:

• An ability to work with the community and community groups and to take an active role in outreach of these groups in Ferndale.
• An ability to work with staff, and work well.
• A candidate who has a vision for Ferndale and has the ability to go to council with tackling issues or presenting opportunities.

Council decided to put off making a final decision until a special council meeting at 3 p.m. Friday at . In the meantime, Council members said they would read over staff evaluations and call references.

The candidates

Each candidate brought something different to the table. Zorn, who was offered Ferndale's city manager position in 2007 but declined the offer, has an extensive background in economic development. McGrath impressed with her skills in human resources and ability to work cooperatively with staff. Council said Tepper was calm and educated. Gabor brought a straightforwardness that came off both good and bad to members of council and staff.

During his interview, Gabor described his management style as "hardcore."

"Gabor would be a challenge to work for," City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman said. "However, he could probably make change quicker than anyone."

"I'm very stern, but I'm consistent," Gabor said. The Marine City city manager spent 30 years in the auto industry, working his way up from the line at General Motors to upper management at Ford Motor Co.

"I have standards," he said during his interview. "I didn't have an option to not meet my standards (in the auto industry). I'm a little bit on the stern side. I'm not bad 'cause I'm very consistent. These are our goals and objectives. We're going to meet them."

Zorn, meanwhile, drew praise from Council for his level of knowledge of Ferndale and his skill in economic development. But Galloway questioned Zorn on why he decided to not take the job in 2007.

"I made a mistake. I should have taken it," said Zorn, who at that time was working in Taylor.  He said that he had started a number of projects and wanted to see them through. He added that he felt the city of Taylor had discouraged him from accepting the position in Ferndale.

McGrath was very likable to Council and staff. She ended up being either a No. 1 or No. 2 candidate for nearly everyone. Her human resource experience was touted several times.

"I liked her approach to problem solving and team building," Galloway said. "I was impressed when she said, 'You're only as good as the person sitting next to you.' "

Mayor Pro Tem Kate Baker didn't list McGrath as one of her two choices. She said she felt McGrath lacked specific illustration when answering council's questions. Baker was also concerned that McGrath lacked experience with police and fire departments.

"I really like John (Gabor). He's firm and concise with budgets," Baker said.

Why the search?

In February, then-Ferndale City Manager Bob Bruner left to take the city manager's position in Birmingham. Council hired Mark Wollenweber in the interim while council searched for a permanent city manager. Bob Hamilton of the Michigan Municipal League conducted the search.

Wollenweber said Hamilton received 53 resumes, narrowed them down to a dozen based on Council's criteria, and that council then narrowed the field to Saturday's four interviewees.

Council has no timetable for filling the permanent city manager's position, but the candidates all said they would be able to start, if selected, by August. Wollenweber said he would stay on as long as council needed him to.

Bruner's salary was $98,000.