Albany officials rescind job offer to downtown manager candidate

ALBANY — The city of Albany has withdrawn a job offer made to downtown manager candidate Michael Syphoe, according to information obtained by The Albany Herald through the state’s Open Records Act.

According to city officials, a job offer had been made to Syphoe, who is from Riverdale, and he was given $3,000 toward his moving expenses in advance of his planned move to Albany.

But Assistant City Manager Wes Smith said Friday that after the offer was made, further scrutiny into Syphoe’s background raised questions.

“Before the offer was made, there was significant debate (over the hiring) among the two panels that interviewed candidates,” Smith said. “But everything we’d seen at that point came up OK, so the offer was made (reportedly by then-interim City Manager Tom Berry). But when looking further into the candidate’s background, things came up that could be challenges. There was on overall concern of bringing someone in with those challenges.”

Asked if the offer had been officially withdrawn, Smith referred The Herald to interim City Manager Phil Roberson, who was not immediately available Friday afternoon.

Newly hired City Manager Sharon Subadan, contacted by The Herald, said the issue is “being dealt with.”

“Because this is a personnel matter, and I’m not 100 percent sure what Georgia law says about discussing personnel, I think it’s best that I make no comment other than to say that the issue is being dealt with and will be taken care of before I officially take over as city manager (June 22),” Subadan said in a phone interview.

Responding to a Herald Open Records request, City Attorney Nathan Davis confirmed the offer to Syphoe had been officially rescinded. He forwarded a copy of a letter sent to the candidate Thursday that read:

Dear Mr. Syphoe:

In a follow up to the May 29, 2015 email from (city Human Resources Director) Henry Cohen, I have consulted with the new City Manager, Sharon Subadan, regarding the results of the employment background check that was conducted as part of our due diligence process. Based upon our findings, it has been determined by all involved parties that it would not be in the best interest of the City to proceed with finalizing your contingent offer of employment. Consequently, the employment offer is being withdrawn pursuant to Ms. Subadan’s direction. Please contact Mr. Cohen to discuss reimbursement of reasonable out of pocket expenses that you may have incurred.

Thank you for your interest in the position. We wish you the best in your future endeavors.

The letter was signed by Roberson on behalf of Subadan.

Smith said that while the matter is not completely resolved, he did not expect the entire $3,000 in expense money to be returned to the city.