How can I be assured that this process will be confidential and secure?
As a former city manager for more than 22 years, I am very experienced in working with public officials in environments where confidentiality is required. Strict confidentiality is maintained throughout the performance evaluation process. Every effort is made to protect the anonymity of feedback provided by members, and the written summary of the feedback is reported anonymously. Notes from interviews are retained by the consultant on a secure server and are never provided to either the individual being evaluated or members of the governing board. As a member of ICMA and an ICMA-Credentialed Manager, I adhere to the ICMA Code of Ethics.
How long does the facilitated evaluation process take?
The typical timeframe is six to eight weeks from execution of a signed contract to the closed session with the council/board. This timeframe will occasionally be longer, depending on the agency’s schedule and the number of interviews required.
How are the interviews conducted?
All interviews are conducted online, via the Zoom or Teams platforms. I use a scheduling tool which allows council members to conveniently schedule their interview at a time that works best for them.
Do you facilitate the closed session in person?
In most cases, yes. I have extensive experience facilitating closed session discussions of performance in person as well as remotely via Zoom or Teams. My preference is always to facilitate the closed session in person, but when it is impractical or too costly to travel to the client, I will suggest a remote session via Zoom.
Do you collect staff feedback about the chief executive’s performance?
Yes. On occasion, some governing bodies are interested in receiving feedback from their department heads and other executive team members about the executive’s performance. This entails additional interviews and the results of these interviews are always reported separately from the governing board’s feedback. To be most meaningful, it is best to collect this type of feedback after the second year (or later) of an executive’s tenure.
Is this process expensive?
The cost for the facilitated evaluation process is quite reasonable, usually well within the signing authority of the chief executive. As a sole proprietor business, I have minimal overhead costs, and my proposals are typically much less expensive than larger consulting firms. All proposals are fixed price contracts rather than hourly-based, so you can be certain of the total cost before proceeding.
Are you willing to meet with my City Council to explain this process?
Yes, I’m happy to meet with members of the governing body to provide more information about the process and answer any questions they may have. These meetings will normally take place via a Zoom or Teams meeting.
Daniel Keen Consulting 