The hope was a new inspector general would be in place Oct. 1.
New fiscal year, new start for the office that’s shifting at the top a little over a year after it was established.
That goal will be much harder to reach after the office’s oversight committee decided Tuesday a deeper pool of candidates was needed.
From mid-June to early July, an advertisement for the position netted 28 applications — significantly lower than the more than 80 who sought the job in 2015.
Of the 28, 16 didn’t meet the minimum requirements. Three of 12 left were unresponsive. Another withdrew.
That left eight possibilities, which were further narrowed to five Tuesday by the Inspector General and Retention Committee.
Even with five candidates, the committee wanted more choices that may come with another round of advertising.
“I just wasn’t that impressed,” said Ywana Allen, a Taxation, Revenue and Utilization of Expenditures Commission representative. Instead, she said she’d rather the process take a slower, steadier approach to ensure the right person is selected.
The next push will span from mid-August until early September, just after Labor Day. It’s a time when people often return from vacations and gear up for school years.
“Maybe it’s summer,” said Sheryl Steckler, as to why there is a dip in interest. The last call for applicants concluded in May 2015.
The former Palm Beach County inspector general helped launch the Jacksonville office and continues to help interim head Steve Rohan, a former city assistant general counsel. He is filling in for Tom Cline, who resigned in April after serving just under a year in the $155,000-a-year job.
The next advertising push will include mentions in a national inspector general publication, which didn’t coincide with the last search.
Resumes could be reviewed starting the week of Sept. 12 — or maybe not, depending on how many additional people apply. If the number isn’t sufficient as the advertising period winds down, the committee could extend it.
City Council President Lori Boyer said she wasn’t necessarily disappointed or surprised by the initial turnout, but was hopeful the next wave would yield greater results. Tuesday’s meeting marked the last for Boyer on the committee and as chair. She stepped down and appointed council Vice President John Crescimbeni to take her spot.
He will serve as vice chair, while Circuit Judge Elizabeth Senterfitt moves up to take over as chair.
The longer timeframe will mean more work for Rohan, but he said he’s OK with that — he will stay until a successor is named and there’s time to acclimate that person.
It’s just not likely to be Oct. 1 anymore.
@writerchapman
(904) 356-2466