City picks top three manager finalists.

Byline: Jack Moran The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - The list of those in the running for the city manager's post has been whittled to a pair of City Hall insiders and a candidate from Wisconsin, city officials said Tuesday.

Springfield residents have a chance to grill the three finalists during a "meet-and-greet" session set for Thursday night at City Hall. City councilors, who will make the hiring decision, hope the event will generate feedback from community members.

"It is important for us to get the public's input," said John Woodrow, council president. "This is, without a doubt, the most important decision we as a city council make."

Finalists for the job include current Assistant City Manager Cynthia Pappas, current city Development Services Director Bill Grile and Jim Payne, city administrator of Waukesha, Wis.

The City Council may be ready to offer a job to its preferred successor to retiring City Manager Mike Kelly by the end of this week. Each of the finalists will be subjected to three rounds of interviews on Friday, before panels of city department heads, community leaders and the City Council.

"We have pretty much decided we need to move forward on this, and we're going to do our best to make a decision Friday," Woodrow said.

Kelly, who had planned to retire by September, has agreed to stay with the city until his successor is hired.

"Whoever tries to fill Mike Kelly's shoes has some big shoes to fill," said Grile, who arrived in Springfield in 2003 after serving nearly eight years as city manager in Coos Bay.

Grile said the fact that he's a relative newcomer to Springfield means he "still (has) an outsider's perspective" of the city government, although he is a member of its executive team of department heads.

"I know I can do more to help the city accomplish its goals than I have done as development services director," Grile said in explaining his interest in the city manager slot.

If Kelly's assistant, Pappas, is picked for the post, Grile said, he would be happy to continue working for the city.

"I have a lot of respect for Cynthia," he said. "I have been supporting the city manager's office as a member of the executive team, and would continue to do that (under Pappas). I am committed to Springfield."

Pappas, who served as development services director before accepting a job in the city manager's office in 2003, said she believes that she is the right person for the city manager's job.

"I bring a fresh perspective, but one that is grounded in the Springfield community," she said.

"In order for us to solve (the city's) problems, folks need to have confidence in their leader. I'm the leader the community trusts and respects."

Pappas said she would re-examine her job at City Hall if the council chooses Grile to replace Kelly.

"I think the assistant city manager and the city manager need to have a very strong team relationship," Pappas said. "If (Grile was hired), I'd need to see if that would work for the betterment of the community. That's really what it's all about."

Grile and Pappas were the only two Springfield employees to apply for the post.

Payne, the lone finalist without Springfield ties, is a Green Bay native. He said he sought the position because the prospect interested him.

"There's no particular reason to leave (Waukesha). I'm just looking for something new and challenging," said Payne, contacted Tuesday at his office. The Springfield job "seems like a very interesting position, something I'd very much enjoy."

Waukesha is a city of about 65,000. Springfield's population is approximately 55,000.

Payne flew to Oregon last Friday for an initial interview with the City Council, returned to Wisconsin last weekend and plans to come back to Springfield in time to attend Thursday's meet-and-greet session.

A total of 45 candidates from 25 states applied for the job after a national recruitment. The number was eventually trimmed to five applicants who were interviewed last week by the City Council during a daylong, nonpublic session. The council hired an executive search specialist to help them with the process.

Kelly's annual base salary is $142,405.69. The City Council will negotiate a new deal with the candidate chosen for the city manager job, Woodrow said.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

What: A public "meet-and- greet" session with the three finalists for Springfield's city manager job

When: Thursday, 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Where: Main lobby of City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield

Why: The City Council hopes to learn what the public thinks of the finalists.

THE CANDIDATES

Cynthia Pappas

Age: 47

Hometown: Springfield area

Current job: Assistant city manager, city of Springfield. Hired in 2003.

Previous jobs: Development services director, city of Springfield (2000-03); administrative division manager, development services department, city of Springfield (1999-2000). Total of 23 years working for local government agencies in Lane County.

Education: BA degrees in geography and environmental studies, University of California, Santa Barbara (1980); master's in urban and regional planning, University of Oregon (1983).

Jim Payne

Age: 58

Hometown: Waukesha, Wis.

Current job: City administrator, city of Waukesha. Hired in 1999.

Previous jobs: City business administrator, Franklin, Wis.; city administrator, LeMar, Iowa.

Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Wisconsin (1973); MBA, public administration, Arizona State University (1983).

Bill Grile

Age: 56

Hometown: Springfield

Current job: Development services director, city of Springfield. Hired in 2003.

Previous positions: City manager, Coos Bay (1995-2003); city councilor, Coos Bay (1986-94); planning director, Coos County (1979-95).

Education: BA, geography, Carroll College, Waukesha, Wis. (1971); master's, geography, Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz. (1975).