Spencer, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — The Spencer city council tabled action Monday night on hiring a new City Manager. A job description and salary discussion was planned for the committee of the whole meeting that began at 5:15pm, but they ran out of time before the 6:30 regular council meeting.

Discussion on recruiting a new Finance Director took 45 minutes. Acting City Manager Kevin Robinson and Human Resources Director Jessica Wright pointed out that there were only two applicants when the salary was advertised at 99 to 111 thousand dollars, and that neither candidate had extensive municipal finance experience.

Six councilmembers finally agreed the city should offer a top end of 145 thousand dollars a year in an effort to spur interest. Councilman Brian Balk, though, said that former Finance Director and Deputy City Manager Brian Weuve topped out at 114 thousand dollars a year, and potentially increasing that position 31 thousand dollars could either spur a round of mass raises, or resentment among the rest of the city staff.

This time around HR Director Wright will handle the process instead of the city hiring a recruiter.

Particulars on the City Manager’s position will now be discussed at a special committee of the whole meeting next Monday night.