GRAND RAPIDS, MI – After an interview process described as a “prize fight,” an internal candidate has been hired as the new city treasurer.<br />City Commission on Tuesday, June 3, voted 6-1 to appoint John Globensky, an investment analyst in the Grand Rapids treasurer’s department, over the other finalist, Lorna Nenciarini, an assistant finance director for the city of Kentwood. Globensky will take over next week for Al Mooney, who retired last month.<br /><br />“I just want to continue his legacy,” Globensky said. “We want to make it easier (for people to do business with the treasurer’s office). We want to keep as many payment streams open as possible.”<br /><br />RELATED: Another top Grand Rapids administrator announces retirement<br /><br />While some commissioners were torn over what they called two good candidates, the board ultimately voted 6-1 in favor of Globensky. They favored his emphasis on customer service and his desire to increase electronic payment options for various fees and fines.<br /><br />Commissioners also expressed preference for promoting someone from within City Hall.<br /><br />“I kind of liken this to a prize fight,” First Ward City Commissioner Walt Gutowski said. “Even though Mr. Globensky is not the treasurer right now, he is part of the department and if you’re going to beat the champ you’ve got to really knock him out. I don’t believe there was enough there (from Nenciarini in the interview process) to take out the champ.”<br /><br />But commissioners also voiced concern about Globensky’s lack of experience supervising employees and implementing financial management systems. Grand Rapids is transitioning to a new financial system and some commissioners felt Nenciarini, with more government experience, might be better suited for that task.<br /><br />Ultimately, only Third Ward Commissioner Senita Lenear opposed hiring Globensky.<br /><br />“Al Mooney was the champ. (Nenciarini) is not in a fight with Al Mooney,” Lenear said. “(Globensky) is someone who isn’t even the deputy (treasurer).”<br /><br />Mooney worked in the Grand Rapids treasurer's office for 30 years and had been city treasurer since 1988. He had been earning a $112,484 salary, the top of the pay scale for the job. The low end of the pay range for city treasurer is $88,834.<br /><br />The job oversees billing and collection of taxes as well as certain fees and fines, and also invests the public's money. It is one of four city positions - along with city manager, city attorney and city clerk - that gets filled by City Commission appointment.