Saint John’s mayor says the search for a new city manager will be a top priority of council.
Jeff Trail announced in June he would be stepping down at the end of August after three years in the position.
Mayor Don Darling said the city will take a two-pronged approach as they search for Trail’s replacement.
“We’re going to work with our internal HR folks to the best of our ability on what I would call some of the housekeeping items,” Darling said, “and then we will be procuring the services of an outside HR specialist.”
No word on timeline
Darling will chair a subcommittee to oversee the recruitment process and will be joined by Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary, Coun. David Merrithew and Coun. Donna Reardon.
The city spent about $50,000 during the last city manager recruitment but Darling expects it will cost less this time around.
“I don’t think we have to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “We’ll be dusting off the process that was used, we’ll be updating the job descriptions, we’ll be doing those things.”
Deputy city manager Neil Jacobsen will take over as acting city manager on August 17.
Council has not said how long the process will take.
