Deadline to apply for Ann Arbor city administrator position is June 20, according to job posting

The job posting includes a link to download a six-page brochure explaining the duties of the city administrator and the kind of person Ann Arbor is looking for to fill the position.

The ideal candidate, according to the job description, will have extensive experience in public sector management, preferably as a city administrator, city manager, or county administrator in an urban setting with a wide diversity of cultural, political and service issues.

Carolyn Grawi, director of advocacy and education at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, said she's pleased to say her group — which advocates on behalf of the disabled community — has worked with the city and its consultant to revise the previous job description, which spelled out numerous "physical requirements."

Grawi's nonprofit group took issue with those requirements in April, saying they were unnecessary, discriminatory and a clear violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Grawi said the job description is now written in such a way that all candidates with or without a disability who meet the city's criteria are welcome to apply.

The brochure says the city will offer a "competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package," but does not include an exact figure or range.

The city's search committee previously recommended a salary range of $145,000 to $150,000.

Roger Fraser, who retired as city administrator in April to take a job with the state of Michigan, made a base salary of $145,354 before he left, but records show his total income from the city pushed $160,000 in recent years due to bonuses awarded by the City Council.

The city is accepting applications from both internal and external candidates. Internally, Public Services Area Administrator Sue McCormick is seen as the likely frontrunner for the job. McCormick could not be reached for comment for this story.

The city is expected to pay Affion somewhere short of $25,000 for its consultant services, inclusive of travel costs.

City officials expressed hopes in April that the city would begin conducting interviews in June, with a new administrator selected by July 1 and on the job by Aug. 1. Until a new administrator is in place, CFO Tom Crawford is serving as the interim administrator.

The Ann Arbor City Council is responsible for hiring the administrator.