City council will review eight new city manager applicants

Staff report

The Portales City Council will review eight new applications for the city manager’s position during an executive session after today’s meeting, according to Mayor Sharon King.

King said the most recent applicants include two city employees, two from in-state and applicants from Maryland, Texas, New York and North Carolina.

She said the salary for the position is budgeted at $83,000.

Public works director John DeSha, information technology director Dennis Hales and building and zoning director Sammy Standefer were interviewed for the position by the council in executive session two weeks ago.

DeSha, Hales and Standefer were the only three candidates to apply when the job was posted internally.

After the interviews, the council decided to open the search to outside candidates.

“After (today’s) meeting we’ll review the new applicants and decide if we want to bring any of them in for an interview or possibly hire someone we already interviewed,” King said.

“I’m pretty pleased with the 11 applicants. I think we’ll be able to get a good candidate.”

The council is looking to replace Doug Redmond, who announced his resignation in September after a little more than a year on the job. Redmond said he is leaving to go into private business. His last day is Dec. 31.

King said there is no official timeline to hire a new city manager, however, they hope to get someone on board to be able to work with Redmond for as long as possible.

She said they would like to avoid appointing an interim city manager.