In Search Of …
Town Hires Consulting Firm to Find
New Manager
Because of Baenziger’s familiarity with Bay
Harbor, he would charge the town only $17,500.
Leaving
in 60 days or more: Bay Harbor
Islands Town Manager Greg Tindle
By
Evan Berkowitz
The
Bay Harbor Islands Town Council hired the consulting firm of
Colin Baenziger and Associates to find a new manager to run the
municipality, during its Dec. 11 meeting.
Last
week Town Manager Greg Tindle announced his pending resignation
after three years on the job. Mayor Peter G. Lynch said that
while Tindle liked his job well enough, his daily two-hours-plus
commute had become a burden. He’s “tired of fighting 836
[expressway],” quipped Lynch.
Lynch
said Tindle’s contract calls for him to stay at least another 60
days. “He’s assured us that he’ll stay longer if need be,” until
a replacement can be found, Lynch said. Lynch also said that
Assistant Town Manager J.C. Jimenez did not think himself
experienced enough yet to take the top position.
Tindle was hired in 2003 to replace Linda Karlsson, town manager
for the prior 12 years. Tindle, who previously worked as the
manager of Islamorada, was recruited by Colin Baenziger for Bay
Harbor Islands at a cost of $15,000. Councilman Robert Yaffe
said the Baenziger-led search was “extremely well organized,
very professionally done.” Now 48, Tindle makes $110,000 a year
as Bay Harbor’s manager.
Prior
to the council meeting, Tindle checked with Baenziger to see if
he was available for the job again. Baenziger replied that the
firm’s price for such services had risen to about $20,000, but,
because of his familiarity with Bay Harbor, he would charge the
town only $17,500. The council voted unanimously to authorize
Tindle to enter into a written agreement with the firm.
According to the Colin Baenziger and Associates’ Web site, the
firm has recently completed significant executive search efforts
for Florida local governments including, among others, Lake
Worth, Destin, Miami Gardens, Doral, Palm Bay, Palm Beach
Gardens, North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Manalapan, Lantana,
Lake Park, Islamorada, Marathon, Palmetto Bay and Lauderdale
Lakes. Other Florida search clients include Tamarac, the
Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, the Florida
Keys Aqueduct Authority and Monroe and Nassau counties.
“You
should have a lot of interest from some very qualified people
because, first, this is a great community; second, there’s a lot
of challenging and interesting things to do for a manager,” said
Tindle, who cited that evening’s discussion regarding the
expansion of Ruth K. Broad-Bay Harbor Elementary School as an
example of the “big projects” the town has to work through in
the future.
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letters@miamisunpost.com.
