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Milton could have new administrator in place by November

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Todd J. Schmidt

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Jerry Schuetz

MILTON — Milton could have a new city administrator in place before Christmas if a recruitment plan forged by outgoing City Administrator Todd Schmidt goes smoothly.

Schmidt said the city has started a national advertising and recruitment campaign, and as of Tuesday, he'd already received several inquiries and a few resumes from candidates interested in filling his position at City Hall.

Schmidt resigned as Milton's city administrator Aug. 17, announcing then that he planned to take a job as administrator at the village of Waunakee.

Schmidt's last day at work in Milton is Sept. 21, but the administrator offered last week to recruit his replacement for a maximum fee of $2,500. The city council approved the offer last week with officials saying it could save the city at least $5,500 compared to the cost of hiring a search firm to find a new city administrator.

The city is accepting applications for the position until Sept. 17, and the city council plans to start screening candidates for a new administrator at a meeting Sept. 21, Schmidt said.

The council could narrow the field to four to six top candidates after a city council meeting Oct. 5., with the city likely announcing the finalists at that time, Schmidt said.

"Should all things go smoothly, the selection could be done by the end of October. That could mean that by the end of November, someone could be back in the administrator's chair," Schmidt said.

Under that timeframe, the city would operate for about two months with Milton Police Chief Jerry Schuetz acting as interim city administrator. The city council approved Schuetz's temporary appointment Aug. 17.

Herb Stinski, a former assistant city manager for the city of Janesville, will assist in planning the city's 2011 budget.

During recruitment for the new city administrator, Schmidt plans to act as an independent consultant, which means he'll organize and assist in the candidate search but won't direct the hiring process.

"Really, this comes down to the city council's pick," Schmidt said.

Schmidt said he'll recommend that the council draw from city department heads and a citizen's panel for input in the decision.

Meanwhile, the Waunakee Village Board on Monday unanimously approved hiring Schmidt, village Clerk Julee Helt said.

Details on Schmidt's contract were not immediately available, but last week Helt said the position has a pay range of $105,000 to $125,000. Schmidt's salary as Milton's city administrator is $78,416, according to city records.