INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and#8212; The IVGID Board of Trustees will wait until after the November election to look into the creation of a search committee responsible for interviewing candidates to replace outgoing General Manager Bill Horn.
The trustees' 5-0 vote on Wednesday to revisit the issue in December allows the 2013 board to call the shots. At minimum, the 2013 board of trustees will feature two new members, and possibly three, if Bea Epstein, the lone incumbent, is not re-elected.
and#8220;I don't think this board has any wherewithal to start this search,and#8221; Trustee Joe Wolfe said during discussion on Horn's impending departure. and#8220;We are a lame-duck board. Mrs. Epstein may be returning. But that would only make three of us, and I still think this is something this board (doesn't) need to start to consider.and#8221;
Horn and#8212; who has held the position of Incline Village General Improvement District general manager since 2002 and#8212; announced at the Aug. 8 board meeting he would retire, effective Dec. 31, 2013. That same day, Horn mentioned three internal candidates, each of whom he feels could be the right fit: Joe Pomroy, director of public works; Brad Wilson, general manager at Diamond Peak Ski Resort; and Brad Johnson, engineering manager.
On Wednesday, Fuller and#8212; one of two outgoing IVGID trustees and#8212; said and#8220;we have a pretty good outline of a job descriptionand#8221; for the general manager, based on and#8220;certain input from people ... who are in the know, as to who might fit the category.and#8221;
The other outgoing trustee, Chuck Weinberger, said while a job description may exist, plenty of questions remain to be answered.
and#8220;We don't really know the type of person we're looking for. Our GM has some very great strengths, but he's got a few weaknesses as well,and#8221; Weinberger said. and#8220;(Horn) comes from a strong accounting background, and (works well) with the community with divisive issues. Are those the two strengths we want in the next GM? Maybe he or she should have a strong marketing background. I just don't know right now.and#8221;
Weinberger also said he feels it's and#8220;premature to say we have three people on staff who can fit the bill.and#8221;
Horn's retirement announcement came about a month after the IVGID board voted 4-1 to approve a restructured contract that includes a clause guaranteeing him an 18-month severance package should he choose to retire.
According to previous reports, Horn negotiated the clause with Fuller and District Legal Counsel T. Scott Brooke. The 18-month package helped Horn's decision a few weeks later to retire, he said in an Aug. 8 Bonanza story, considering his previous contract mandated he give six months' notice before retiring and#8212; while also reserving the board's right to let him go, sans pay, before that retirement date. Horn said he would have been and#8220;foolishand#8221; to not work out the 18-month deal.
On Wednesday, trustees agreed that a year should be ample time for the 2013 board to create a search committee, establish whatever public and/or private interview processes are needed for candidates and hire a new leader before Horn leaves.
and#8220;I think it's very important that the three newly elected members of the board have input ... I also believe the two remaining members of the current board should be involved in that process,and#8221; Epstein said.
Regardless of the process the 2013 board sets, Wolfe made it clear that waiting until after the election is the right move.
and#8220;I think one year is adequate for the new board to find someone,and#8221; he said. and#8220;I've asked over 400 people in this community about (starting the process now) and have been put up against a wall and#8212; it's the new board that should be the one to do this.
and#8220;Please agree with me on this and#8212; let's not open this can of worms.and#8221;
