Avondale Estates has decided on hiring the Athens, Ga.-based search collective, The Mercer Group, to help find a replacement for City Manager Clai Brown who left last month.
The choice isn’t official until the city’s board of mayor and commissioners votes, which could either be March 29 or sometime next week. In a straw poll during a recent work session The Mercer Group was favored 4 to 1 with only Lionel Laratte against. The commission had narrowed the list to four finalists.
The contract is for 120 days—commencing with commission approval—and the estimated cost is $21,000.
“What I like is that [Mercer] has a portfolio that’s more southeastern,” said Mayor Jonathan Elmore. “They’ve had a lot more recent placements, I like their approach and their references are very good.”
In a strange sequence of events Brown, who grew up in the city and whose father was city manager for 46 years, suddenly resigned last Dec. 6. He then rescinded his resignation on Jan. 11 before ultimately agreeing to a final separation with the city on Feb. 14.
Since then Financial Director Ken Turner has served as interim city manager. It’s still not known if Turner will apply for the permanent position.
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