PAHOKEE – The City of Pahokee will get help from the Florida City County Managers Association - Senior Advisors (previously called Range Riders), in their search for a new city manager.

At their April 14 meeting, the commissioners heard from Ken Parker of the Senior Advisors. Senior Advisors are retired city and county managers with lengthy experience and who are respected within the public management field. Senior Advisors are appointed by the boards of directors of the FCCMA and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

“There is a team of individuals who will help your city,” said Parker. “We help you find the individual who will best serve you,” he said.

Parker said they can help the city find an interim manager as well as a permanent city manager.

“From the senior advisor standpoint, we are not compensated. The only thing we request is reimbursed for mileage, lodging and meal expenses,” Parker explained. He said there are other expenses involved such as background checks.

“When you bring someone in for your interview, you would be responsible for those expenses,” he said. Normally selecting a candidate is a three-day process, which includes touring the community, meeting with department heads, meetings with city commissioners, a reception where the community has a chance to meet the candidates and the public interview, he added.

Commissioner Regina Bohlen said she likes the idea of using the Senior Advisors to help. “I think allowing people who do this all the time to assist us for a small amount of money would be in our best interest,” she said.

Mayor Keith Babb said using an outside company to handle a candidate search could be expensive.

The commission voted unanimously to use the help of Senior Advisors to find a new city manager.