Moore named interim city manager

During a nearly three-hour special meeting Wednesday night, most of which was spent in executive session, the Nevada City Council voted unanimously to pass on first and second readings an emergency ordinance to hire Harlan Moore, Grove, Okla., as interim city manager while the council looks for a permanent city manager.

Moore will fill the vacancy left by the sudden resignation of Bill McGuire last week as city manager.

The ordinance was considered as an emergency ordinance because the city needs someone to provide managerial leadership and to oversee the 2009 budget process.

Moore served as Nevada's interim city manager from June 2006 through March 2007 and oversaw the downsizing of the city staff in July 2006.

Nevada Mayor Mike Huchens said that Moore is interested in the job and is available to serve until the office can filled.

Hutchens said that the council discussed the issue of the 2006 staff cuts with Moore and said that this council is not interested in doing the same thing.

"That is not something the council is looking to do, or wants to do,"Hutchens said, adding that they plan to start looking at the 2009 budget during their Dec. 2 meeting.

Hutchens said that the council had also interviewed Nevada native Sam Foursha for the position, however, Foursha, who has been Nevada's economic development director and was acting city manager for two month in 2006, is currently employed by the U.S. State Department and still has seven months left on that contract, making him unavailable.

Since the story broke online late Wednesday, commenters on the Nevada Daily Mail's Web site, www.nevadadailymail.com, have expressed adamant opinions, one in particular challenging the wisdom of the choice, and saying the city is need of a "qualified, professional city manager."

Another post by councilmember Tim Wells defends the choice, saying the council felt, "We need someone who is familiar with both the audit and budget process of Nevada, and of those who were willing to fill an interim position, Mr. Moore fit the bill better than anyone."

The council's next regular meeting is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, in council chambers, located inside the city's Public Safety Building at the corner of Ash and Austin, Nevada.

Several items are on the tentative agenda, including another executive session.

The agenda could change.

The meeting is open to the public.