PORT ANGELES — The City Council has begun narrowing the pool of candidates for city manager.
But neither the names of the semifinalists nor the number of them is going to be made public, Mayor Gary Braun said.
“We are still in the process of narrowing it down,” he said after the council met in closed-door executive session on Friday to examine candidates’ resumes.
“I can’t talk about what was said during the executive session,” Braun said.
The council has another meeting set for Nov. 19 in which they expect to select finalists for the job to interview, a public meeting notice from City Hall said.
The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
That meeting is expected to be a closed-door executive session, and finalists are expected to be selected.
‘Moving through process’
“We’re moving through the process,” Braun said.
“I hope we can have someone selected before the end of the year.”
The City Council hired consultant Waldron & Co. of Seattle for $25,000 to find candidates for the permanent city manager post.
The council hopes to hold interviews with the candidates on Dec. 3 about 8:30 a.m.
An executive session will be possible to discuss the qualifications of the candidates.
Braun said he did not know for sure when the interviews would be or if a decision would be made on that day.
Midwinter arrival
If all goes according to plan, the council hopes to have someone in place by late January or early February.
The job was opened up in July when Mark Madsen tendered his resignation, which was effective Sept. 1.
In his resignation letter, Madsen cited “untenable, hostile work conditions.”
Madsen was paid about $148,000 annually, and received a $37,000 severance package.
Since Sept. 1, a retired city manager, Jerry Osterman, has served in the interim.
The search for a permanent manager was to be focused primarily in the Northwest region, said Ed Rogan, an executive search practice leader for Waldron & Co.
When the finalists are selected, a public meet-and-greet could be held, the City Council has said.
Rogan in August told the council that between three and six finalists would be ideal for the final interviews.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
