Posted: Feb. 2, 2010

Oak Creek — How will the city function without its top administrator?

Oak Creek will find out in the coming weeks and months as officials plan how to delegate responsibilities and begin the search for a replacement for Pat DeGrave, whose contract the Common Council decided not to renew.

The administrator generally oversees the day-to-day operations in the city.

Six-way split

For the time being, six top city officials will make up a temporary administrative team to perform those duties until a new administrator is hired. The group consists of Mayor Richard Bolender, City Clerk Pamela Bauer, Director of Community Development Doug Seymour, Acting City Engineer Michael Simmons, Finance Director Mark Wyss and City Attorney Lawrence Haskin.

The group will coordinate between departments, provide oversight, watch legislative developments and meet weekly to review how things are going.

The Common Council will receive an update each week.

All bases covered for now

The city attorney said the arrangements should be effective, at least in the short term.

"We're going to be able to move forward without any glitches whatsoever," Haskin said during the Feb. 2 Common Council meeting. "Everybody's doing their job, everybody's moving forward in a very positive perspective.

"There is absolutely nothing that is not being handled or not being covered," he added. "We have very qualified, very competent people that are on top of all of the major issues facing the city."

As for the more distant future, no timetable has been set on selecting a successor. When the position was last vacant four years ago, it took about six to nine months to fill, Haskin said.

City officials will discuss whether to appoint an interim city administrator while the search goes on for a permanent replacement.

Necessary skills in successor

Interviewed shortly after this week's council meeting, two alderman said new development in certain areas of the city will be one of the top issues facing the next city administrator.

Bender Park and the lakefront, Howell Avenue, 27th Street and the old Delphi plant are among the areas in Oak Creek which officials will be targeting for new uses.

"I would like to see someone very strong in development skills (and) attracting new development," Alderman Michael Toman said. "You need a strong city administrator that has those skills."

Alderman Tom Michalski said he would be looking for someone with vision, good people skills and experience with new development.

"That's not to say Pat DeGrave did not have those qualities, but going forward I'm looking for a person to really focus on the area of development," he said.

Limited info on DeGrave

DeGrave worked as city administrator for four years before the council unanimously voted not to renew his contract following a closed-session meeting Jan. 25.

Michalski referred questions about DeGrave's dismissal to Haskin, who was not immediately available to answer questions following the Tuesday night meeting. Check for updates on OakCreekNOW.com as information becomes available.