Durango City Council seeks input on preferred qualities for next city manager

Councilors plan to fill position sometime this spring

The Durango City Council wants input from community leaders in its search for a new city manager, a position it hopes to fill this spring.

Consultants hired to perform a search for a city manager met with elected officials and city staff this week in an effort to determine characteristics they may look for in qualified candidates for the next top administrator in Durango.

Slavin Management Consultants President Robert Slavin said councilors should expect a draft of a profile defining the preferred characteristics and qualifications of potential candidates by Jan. 20.

Once councilors approve the document, consultants anticipate the hiring process will take 90 days. It may take an additional 30 to 45 days for the person to begin working.

City councilors agreed to invite dozens of community stakeholders to contribute to the preferred profile, seeking comments from organization leaders who would work with the city manager on a regular basis. The council also plans to host a meet-and-greet session with three to five finalists and the community toward the end of the selection process.

“If we take the time to get input, I want to be more inclusive than exclusive,” Mayor Melissa Youssef said.

Weigh in with the Durango Herald at: https://durangoherald.com/articles/309579-durango-city-council-seeks-input-on-preferred-qualities-for-next-city-manager