Performance review for city manager begun

Published 12:36 pm Tuesday, November 29, 2011

In an executive session held after the regular City Council meeting on Nov. 21, the Council held a performance review of Mercer Island City Manager Rich Conrad.

Conducting an evaluation of Conrad’s performance was requested by Councilmembers because of the lawsuit between former city employee Londi Lindell and the city.

According to city attorney Katie Knight, the first steps in the process of evaluating the city manager involve the mayor interviewing other city directors, key staff and City Councilmembers. Councilmembers and Conrad also discussed his performance at the executive session on Nov. 21. Conrad submits his own written assessment as well. The mayor then summarizes the input from all parties in a memo. The memo is to be finalized before the end of the year.

This process, with the mayor taking the lead, has been in place since at least 2004 or 2005, Knight said.