Avondale Estates is holding a public-input session regarding selection of a new city manager 5:30-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 5 at City Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza. Athens-based The Mercer Group is conducting the search and Senior Vice President Alan Reddish will run Tuesday’s meeting.

Residents will get asked to answer, either verbally or through written response, the following questions:

  • What qualifications/qualities would you like to see in the new City Manager?
  • What two issues would you like to see the new City Manager and the Board of Mayor and Commissioners begin working on after he or she is appointed?

This is the only community meeting planned during the search.

“A larger city wouldn’t do a community meeting,” Reddish said. “But Avondale is the proper size to do this, especially considering the community’s interest in the process.”

Mercer has collected resumes for several weeks, with June 15 the last day for submittal. Reddish said he eventually anticipates receiving 40 to 45 total with possibly half coming from out of state.

He gave a rough timetable, beginning with the commission and himself ultimately creating a short list of four to six candidates who’ll likely get interviewed the week of July 9. Reddish said the commission could announce their selection as early as the third week in July.

After 10 years on the job, Clai Brown resigned as city manager last February. Longtime Financial Director Ken Turner is serving as interim manager.