After 34 years, NSB City Manager Khalid Resheidat to retire; city to talk replacement

Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read
New Smyrna Beach City Manager Khalid Resheidat speaks during a public forum at the Brannon Center to discuss proposed land development regulation amendments to the city's historic districts.
New Smyrna Beach City Manager Khalid Resheidat speaks during a public forum at the Brannon Center to discuss proposed land development regulation amendments to the city's historic districts.

New Smyrna Beach's city manager of 34 years, Khalid Resheidat, is set to retire in August, and the city has already started the replacement process.

City commissioners will meet Tuesday night to discuss a course of action. Three options are on the table:

  • Promote current Assistant City Manager Ron Neibert.

  • Use the city's Human Resources Department for a localized recruitment process.

  • Recruit nationally using a consultant.

According to the city's Human Resources Department, promoting Neibert is the "first option."

In a document prepared for city commissioners, staff mentioned Neibert's 30-plus years of municipal experience, including 20 years in the city manager position in other municipalities (most recently in Eustis).

"Ron has been working alongside Khalid for the last year and a half learning about New Smyrna Beach and creating relationships in the city with staff and citizens," staff wrote in a document to city commissioners. "His promotion would be a seamless transition and would eliminate most recruitment costs."

What if NSB decides to recruit a new city manager?

If the city chooses the recruitment route, the only options are to perform a localized search using the city's Human Resources Department or send out an RFP (request for proposal) for "an impartial outside consultant" to perform a national search.

Human Resources staff recommended against the localized recruitment option, "as the time constraints would burden the department employees." If commissioners choose an outside consultant to do the job, the RFP process must begin this fall.

If the City Commission chooses either recruitment option, the timeline would be the same, according to city documents:

  • The recruiting process would begin in January.

  • The commission would work with HR or the outside consultant to develop an ideal candidate profile.

  • The position would be posted on job boards that cater to municipal government applicants.

  • Applications would be accepted through mid-March. Qualified applicants would be reviewed and a short list of six to eights candidates presented to the commission in late March.

  • City Commission members would have the opportunity to interview each candidate individually and then as a group at a public meeting in April.

  • An open house for citizens to meet the candidates can be arranged also.

  • The commission would make a selection and begin negotiations in May.

  • Final approval of the contract would take place at the first public meeting in June with the selected candidate beginning work in August.

The City Commission will meet for the discussion at 5 p.m. Tuesday at 214 Sams Ave.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB City Commission to talk replacement ahead of city manager's exit