As reported on previously, ICMA is working on a number of important matters to serve our profession. Two significant matters are the ICMA’s Strategic Planning Update and the recruitment of a new executive director. At our MLGMA Winter Institute, I reported on the status of both activities. Since that time, each effort has moved forward, but I wanted to focus for a moment on the executive director search. Applications were due on March 1 and are in the process of being reviewed. The ICMA’s Audit and Evaluation Committee will be interviewing semi-finalist candidates immediately prior to the next Executive Board meeting, which will be held in early June. The committee will select 3-5 finalists to participate in an interview with the entire Executive Board at a special meeting in July. The expectation is that a final candidate will emerge and a formal announcement will be made at the ICMA Conference in September.
This past March, the Midwest Regional Summit was held in Middleton, Wisconsin. Aside from the great professional development opportunity that was afforded to those in attendance, the presidents of the eight states making up the Midwest Region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin), along with ICMA President Pat Martel, interviewed three candidates who submitted their names to be considered for ICMA vice president.
As you are no doubt aware, regional vice presidents serve a three-year term. This year, the VP seat from the Midwest Region is a non-CEO position. Thus, the task was to select a nominee to succeed Tanya Ange, deputy city manager of Mankato, Minnesota. We had three very solid candidates, and Patrick Klein, assistant city manager of Kansas City, Missouri, was selected as the Midwest Region’s nominee. His name will be placed on the ballot for a vote of the entire membership in June. Thanks to MLGMA President Dale Kerbyson, who participated on the interview/nominating panel for this important task.
And speaking of Dale, he took the initiative to survey MLGMA membership about Tenet 3 of the ICMA Code of Ethics, which is being reviewed by the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC). At this writing, I am in the process of summarizing the input provided by you to submit to the CPC. There have been discussions on Tenet 3 at each of the regional summits ICMA has held. In addition, ICMA is taking comments from individual members and, depending on how the CPC decides to move forward, there will be a membership survey to members this summer.
I appreciate the opportunity to provide an update on ICMA activities. If you have any questions about ICMA, please do not hesitate to contact me at daryl.delabbio@kentcountymi.gov.
Daryl Delabbio, County Administrator/Controller, Kent County and
ICMA Midwest Regional Vice President
Daryl Delabbio has served the citizens of Michigan in a variety of capacities for almost four decades. Starting with positions in small cities, he has worked his way up to the top job in one of the state’s largest counties.