By Leslie Moriarty

Herald Writer

SNOHOMISH — A former deputy city manager in Seattle has taken the reins here for an interim period.

Jack Collins, executive director of Northwest Small Cities Services, began work this week as interim Snohomish city manager.

"I am delighted to be able to work with Mayor Thorndike and this fine city council and staff," Collins said. "I look forward to significant challenges in the next few months."

His first task is the 2002 budget which the city council begins work on at 6 p.m. tonight during a budget meeting.

Collins will step in for current city manager Bill McDonald, who announced last month that he is leaving the position to pursue educational opportunities. McDonald will stay in Snohomish until the end of October.

Collins has previously served as deputy mayor in Seattle from 1979 to 1984, city manager at Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., and city manager of Ontario, Ore.

He was the interim town manager in La Conner for three months during summer 2000. It’s likely he’ll be in Snohomish for about four months while the city conducts a search for full-time manager.

Collins operates a nonprofit consulting business, Northwest Small Cities Services, and helps small cities to apply for grants, especially public works grants. He also helps small cities with management problems.

Snohomish Mayor Doug Thorndike said he thinks the council chose Collins because of his devotion to small cities.

But the mayor said Collins is not a candidate for the permanent job.

Among the things Collins brings to Snohomish is his experience in working with city budgets during times of financial constraints, Thorndike said.

Collins was selected after the council interviewed two finalists for the interim job. Five applications were received for the position.

The interim manager is paid through the recruiting firm, Waldron and Associates, Seattle, which is conducting the search for a permanent city manager at a contracted cost of $60 an hour. Collins’ salary comes out of that figure.

The council expects the recruitment process for the permanent city manager will take up to four months.

McDonald has been city manager in Snohomish for about five years and is leaving under good terms, said Mayor Thorndike.

You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436

or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.