Hennessey’s Board of Trustees discussed hiring a recruiting firm to find a replacement for Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman, who resigned last month.

In fact, the possibility of two replacements were discussed at the Thursday, March 9, meeting.

Trustee David Jones said an accounting and office manager probably “wouldn’t know how to laser a pipe,” then suggested the board hire two people: a public works director and a town administrator.

Other trustees warmed up to the idea of splitting those duties.

That was the same work arrangement the town had for about 16 years.

Trustees did away with the public works position in 2017 because income was down. Those responsibilities became the job of the administrator.

Trustees continued their discussion with Oklahoma Municipal Management Services Executive Director Steve Whitlock about using that firm for the search, but only for the administrator position.

The OMMS fee for a nationwide 45-day search is $12,000 and Whitlock had warned the board that “recruitment is slow now.”

He said they’d also help develop a good job description.The town is a member of OMMS and trustees agreed they want to hire the firm, but wanted to look at a contract first.

Whitlock said he would get them a copy the next day and Mayor Bert Gritz said they’d like their attorney to look over it first.

Trustees agreed to have a special meeting Tuesday night, March 14 (after deadline of this edition).

Kingfisher has also hired OMMS to find a replacement for its city manager, who resigned in January.

Trustee Richard Simunek asked Whitlock if he could tell them the salary range that Kingfisher is using.

Whitlock said that would be a violation of their contract.

All trustees were present for the March 9, meeting: Gritz, Vice Mayor Clif Vogt, Trustees Harold Shaw, Jones and Simunek.

Claims Made Against Town

In addition to action on the contract with OMMS for the employee search at the 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, meeting was an executive session to “consider a claim against the town by Esther Gonzalez and Ana Ehrenzeller” as “recommended by the town attorney.”

The agenda also includes an open meeting session “to consider and take action (if any)” on the claims.

There was no information about those claims at deadline time Tuesday.