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10/20/2025
City commissioners feud over public engagement in hiring of city manager
The Helena City Commission is at odds over the hiring of the next city manager following a special meeting called last week to discuss the timing and the public’s input into the decision. One commissioner said the hiring needed to be “more thoughtful,” while the mayor accused that fellow commissioner of “stalling.”
When current Helena City Manager Tim Burton announced his plans to retire at the end of the year, Mayor Wilmot Collins requested that the commission-manager relations subcommittee — comprised of just himself and Commissioner Sean Logan — meet as soon as possible to determine next steps in finding his successor.
At a special meeting Oct. 6, the city commission voted to enter into a $20,000 contract with Helana consulting firm Communication and Management Services to initiate the recruitment and discuss other recommendations for the position’s salary, hosting a public “town-hall-style forum,” and job posting and screening deadlines.
The current timeline has the city set to review applications Nov. 5 and make a job offer by Dec. 15, according to information CMS submitted to the city.
Commissioner Melinda Reed then requested another special meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to flesh out details about the forum and propose additional public engagement earlier in the timeline. Moreover, Reed said that the schedule for hiring a new city manager felt “rushed,” and asked if having the condensed timeline was the best option. Conducting the hiring meetings over the holiday season, she said, would impact community input.
“I’d love to see us maybe think and slow down and be thoughtful,” Reed said at the meeting. “I think opportunities to really talk about what are the steps we’re taking, how do we wanna revise the plan we have, how do we best engage the community, I feel like we are hurtling into this process, and I’m just not sure why we would.”
Mayor Collins said that it’s the commission’s duty to begin now and that waiting would require the city to find an interim manager before hiring a full-time replacement. That option, he added, is “not feasible for the people of Helena.”
“ We have the authority to continue to work until we can work no more until Dec. 31,” Collins said. “I’m still the mayor of Helena, and you all are still the commissioners, and we are entitled to do our work. We contact[ed] CMS, and they believe we could do this.”
Collins also said that he viewed Reed’s inquiries as “stalling.” With the upcoming election, and if the hiring decision is made after Jan. 1, the composition of the commission will be different. Collins, who is not seeking another term, for instance, would no longer have a say in the next city manager if the hiring is delayed.
“ Respectfully, I am not trying to stall. I am trying to be thoughtful,” Reed responded. “That is really all I’m doing, voicing the concerns that I’ve heard from the community about the need for meaningful engagement. I am not trying to stall.”
Collins said that he, too, has heard from members of the public, although those comments have been that the timeline is “appropriate.”
CMS managing consultant Drew Geiger later told Montana Free Press that adding opportunities to include the public’s input could be accommodated without impacting the hiring timeline.
While no official vote was taken, City Commission Clerk Dannai Clayborn was directed by the mayor to collaborate with CMS and Burton on any public engagement recommendations from commissioners. Those recommendations will be discussed at a Monday, Oct. 20, commission meeting at 6 p.m. at City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave., according to a city meeting agenda.
“ This is a really important decision,” Reed, who is seeking another term on the commission, said in an interview with MTFP. “And I think the community needs to help us make this decision, help guide us in what we should be looking for, and help us identify what strengths we wanna build on, what things are important. This is a great chance for Helena to feel invested in the future leadership.”
Public Notice
The Helena Public School District Board of Trustees is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the board until Friday, Oct. 31. Those interested in applying must be registered voters in the Helena Elementary District #1. The trustees will select a replacement at the board meeting Nov. 11 to serve out the remainder of former trustee Rachel Robison’s term until the election next spring. Visit the HPSD website for more information.
5 Things to Know in Helena
Last weekend, Helena experienced its first major snowfall of the season, with some areas accumulating 10 inches to a foot of snow, according to National Weather Service Lead Meteorologist Jason Brudsa. The heavy, wet snow also contributed to city-wide fallen tree branches, with the city receiving about 130 calls and emails from residents, according to Craig Marr, the city’s urban forestry division supervisor. City staff issued a press release the following morning stating that the city would only collect debris from city-owned trees and that residents were responsible for disposing of fallen branches at the city transfer station. Light snow is expected in the surrounding mountains early this week, with a little accumulation on Monday, Brudsa said.
The Helena Public School District is seeking community input on its proposed plans to redraw attendance boundary lines that determine which school students will attend. School officials have said that redrawing boundaries would allow for more “equitable” opportunities for all students. According to the plans, the new boundaries would redistribute students in both high schools and middle schools, as well as Bryant, Four Georgians, Jim Darcy, Rossiter and Warren elementary schools. Residents can submit their comments on the district’s online form until Friday, Dec. 5, or email the district at [email protected].
The Helena Regional Airport will not play the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s video in which she blames Democrats for the government shutdown. The shutdown has impacted TSA employees, causing some delays at airports. In the 32-second video sent to airports nationwide, Noem said Democrats in Congress “refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted.” Helena Regional Airport Director Jeff Wadekamper told MTFP that the airport “does not display any political-based media in our facility,” adding that the airport is required to remain nonpartisan. Airports in Missoula and Great Falls also declined to play the video.
Helena’s only emergency shelter, God’s Love, has changed its admission policy for the remainder of the year, according to a KTVH report. God’s Love has been known to accept almost anyone in need of a shelter, with staff saying that they only had one rule: It didn’t matter if a person was using drugs or alcohol, but if they physically attacked a staff member, they would be barred. Shelter officials now require folks needing their services to prove that they are seeking some kind of help for addiction or mental health, according to KTVH. God’s Love staff were unavailable to respond to MTFP’s request for comment.
The Montana Historical Society’s museum store has closed its location at the walking mall as it relocates to its new permanent home at the renovated Montana Heritage Center, according to a press release. The gift shop’s online store will also be temporarily shut down. The historical society expects ot reopen the store on Wednesday, Dec. 3, coinciding with the public opening of the museum.
Eye on Helena
MTFP hosted and moderated a mayoral debate with candidates Andy Shirtliff and Emily Dean last week. The event was one of the last public forums held before ballots were mailed last Friday. Voters should mail their ballots back no later than Oct. 28 to ensure the county elections office receives them in time to be counted. Ballots can also be dropped off at the elections office at the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave., until 8 p.m. on Election Day. For further questions regarding registration and voting, contact the county elections office at (406) 447-8339.
