Newly Appointed Coral Gables City Manager Withdraws
CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) - After just one week, Jim Beard is withdrawing as Coral Gables' newly appointed city manager after questions were raised about the manager's background.
Now the City Commission will be on the hunt once more for a new candidate.
Beard said he decided against accepting the job because the city refused to grant him a 3-year contract. According to CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald, the city commission began a new search for a city manager after a background check showed Beard filed for bankruptcy 10 years ago. Beard told the Miami Herald the Coral Gables commission that voted to hire him on Sept. 13 knew about the bankruptcy.
Commissioners agreed at Tuesday's commission meeting they will be looking for a new city manager, but don't know when they'll choose one.
Commissioner Frank Quesada told CBS4 News' partner the Miami Herald he definitely doesn't want another lengthy search.
"At this point, it's been a long process. I don't want to wait another three or four months to place a new city manager. I want to move forward quickly," he said.
The city will want to do it fast, as Beard was supposed to choose a new Coral Gables Police Chief after Chief Dennis Weiner resigned on September 10th.
Commissioner Patricia Keon said that hiring a new search firm is key in this search being successful.
"The firm we had now just took applications; they didn't go out and recruit. There's a huge difference there," Keon said. "We need someone to go out and recruit."
The commission went to recess and will pick up the item at Tuesday's budget hearing at 5 p.m.
Beard did not respond to the email sent out by the Miami Herald on Tuesday.
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