The City of Champaign is taking public feedback on the searches for Public Works Director and Chief of Police. Both will be national searches. The City will develop websites with more information, or you can collect and submit paper surveys at the City Building. There will also be a series of meetings in August.
Additional details are below.
City Manager Seeks Public Input in Search for Public Works Director, Chief of Police
CHAMPAIGN – City Manager Dorothy Ann David is announcing the launch of the recruitment processes for the City of Champaign’s next Public Works Director and Chief of Police. Each recruitment will be a national search for a highly qualified candidate. As part of this process, the City Manager is soliciting community input to assist in the development of recruitment profiles.
“Our executive hiring processes are designed to gather as much relevant information as possible to find the candidate that meets the needs, expectations, and values of our community,” David said. “The first step in each process will be to seek input from members of the community, City employees, and partner agencies.”
To gather community input and provide transparency, the City will launch two new recruitment webpages. The pages will include job descriptions, tentative recruitment timelines, and a Request for Proposal for recruitment firms. A public input survey will also be available on each page, giving community members the opportunity to weigh in on the development of recruitment profiles, including important priorities for each of the positions and desired professional qualities and leadership characteristics for the successful candidates. Additionally, City staff will be scheduling a series of community and employee meetings during the month of August to gather input.
Printed copies of the surveys will also be available for community members to fill out and submit at the City of Champaign City Building, 102 N. Neil Street. Members of the public wishing to have a copy of the survey mailed to them may contact the City Manager’s Office at (217) 403-8710.
Previous Public Works Director Dennis Schmidt retired from the City on July 10, 2020, after more than 16 years as Director and 23 combined years of service to the City of Champaign. The recruitment process was delayed due to a hiring freeze related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. City Engineer Dave Clark has served as Acting Public Works Director since Schmidt’s retirement. Clark has announced that he will not be a candidate for the permanent position.
On July 8, 2021, Chief of Police Anthony Cobb announced his resignation, effective August 6, 2021. City Manager Dorothy Ann David will appoint an Acting Chief of Police ahead of Cobb’s departure.
Top image by Anna Longworth.
