Apopka inches nearer to hiring city administrator and economic development director

In 2023, the search for an economic development director in Apopka moved with the speed of a glacier. 

The City Council, at its January 18th, 2023 meeting, voted 3-2 to create an economic development department. But almost a year later, it still doesn't exist, and its director is still unhired.

The department was to be seeded with $200,000 from funds given to Apopka by the American Rescue Plan Act – State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The first order of business was to create a job description and hire an economic development director to spearhead the department into the future. But months into the process brought with it little success.

Commissioner Kyle Becker, who has been a proponent of starting an economic development department since being elected to office in 2016, was pleased with the outcome - at the time.

"I don't want us to be resigned to the status quo," said Becker. "We've got to be innovative. If we make this investment, it's a team effort. We all benefit from it."

Now, almost one year after that vote, it seems as though a candidate may finally be announced in January 2024.

At the December 6th meeting, Becker asked human resource director Joe Patton the status of the economic development director search. 

"I believe you're going to start doing some screenings of potential candidates," Becker said. How is that proceeding?"

"We screened and interviewed candidates, and we have one that's coming forward," Patton said. "I was going to talk to you all after a meeting with the mayor. Hopefully, I'll bring that individual to you pretty soon."

Commissioner Diane Velazquez also wanted to know about the search for a full-time city administrator, which has also had its share of stumbles in the past months.

In August, Mayor Bryan Nelson and interim-city administrator Chuck Vavrek interviewed, vetted, and ultimately hired former Deputy and Interim Seminole County Manager Joe Abel as the next city administrator in Apopka. Abel accepted their offer only to have it withdrawn later in the month. Abel pursued an explanation from Nelson and Vavrek on why he was offered the position and then had it rescinded.

On August 18th, Nelson emailed Abel his reason:

"Joe, I had three people that I respect from Seminole County contact me to say that you would be a bad hire. Simple as that. Sorry that I didn’t do a better job of due diligence before contacting you, and for that, I am truly sorry."

Then, in October, Vavrek wrote a scathing email to commissioners, blaming their conduct during City Council meetings for the struggles of hiring both an economic development director and city administrator.

"That should be YOUR primary mission as a Council, looking to resolve issues and not how to continue to look at political agendas. Putting the PUBLIC'S interest first and foremost," Vavrek wrote.

"What are we doing with the chief administrator's position?" Velazquez asked. "Because Chuck Vavrek (interim city administrator) has already expressed over and over when I've asked him that he, as far as he's concerned, just wants to be the interim until we can get someone permanent."

"That's understood," said Patton. "So, as you may know, we put it out for bid for a headhunter. We had 12 applicants, and we're going through those right now. So we have to have a public meeting to choose the correct one or the winner, and then we will bring that forward to you."

According to investopedia.com: "a headhunter is a company or individual that provides employment recruiting services on behalf of the employer. Headhunters are hired by firms (and municipalities) to find talent and to locate individuals who meet specific job requirements."

"And when do you think that will be coming?" Velazquez asked.

"I have to get with purchasing to figure it out because we have to notice it and get the staff together to evaluate all 12. So, hopefully, we can do that within the next two weeks."

Vavrek took over as the interim city administrator in 2023. The next Apopka City Council meeting is scheduled for January 3rd.