The Peachtree

City Council is apparently ready to begin sorting through the 50 to 60

applications it has received from persons interested in becoming the next

city manager.

Mayor Steve

Brown announced at last week's council meeting that he appointed a committee

to handle the task, but other council members said they wanted to have

more input in the process. Council agreed to formulate ideas on a plan

to be discussed at the next council meeting.

"I think

this is such an important position that all of council should have some

input," said councilwoman Annie McMenamin, adding that she has already

reviewed the applications. "I think it's very important that we all

participate in that selection and even in the interview process."

Mayor Steve

Brown said he wanted the committee to "narrow it down to a certain

percentage of applicants" from the current field of 50 to 60 candidates.

Councilman

Dan Tennant said it might be good to conduct a panel-type interview with

candidates, and councilman Steve Rapson said that might be useful to help

council make its final selection from three candidates.

"It's

the most vital certainly city employee. I would tend to err on the side

of having more input than less," Tennant said.

"Public

panels become difficult when you've got people who submitted resumes in

confidence," Brown said, adding that all council members would be

included in the selection process.

"I think

it would be remiss if every council member is not involved in the process,"

McMenamin said.

"There

are some candidates that can almost get excluded from the process immediately,"

Brown noted.

Tennant and

Rapson said they hadn't looked at the submitted resumes yet. Brown said

the pool of applicants is a "very, very diverse group."

Brown's application

review committee consisted of himself, Rapson, interim city manager Colin

Halterman and citizens Paul Massey and Terry Garlock.

Massey is employed

with a business association and Garlock has experience in investigative

work with accounting, Brown told The Citizen Monday.

Halterman has

made it clear he does not want to remain in the position; previously he

served as director of the city's public works department.

Halterman filled

in for the city after the September resignation of long-time city manager

Jim Basinger, who cited the political climate as part of his reason for

leaving.

Back

to News Home Page | Back

to the top of the page