Norwich — By the first week in November, the City Council expects to receive recommended city manager candidates from the search firm hired last week and hopes to appoint a new city manager by the last week in November, Mayor Deberey Hinchey told city utilities commissioners Tuesday.

Hinchey made her monthly update to the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners on Tuesday, a practice started in June when board members expressed concern about the slow search process.

Norwich Public Utilities General Manager John Bilda has been serving as acting city manager since Feb. 3.

Hinchey presented the board with a timeline graph showing that “marketing and networking” has begun and is expected to run through Nov. 2, when the search firm, Colin Baenziger & Associates of Palm Beach County, Fla., is expected to present five recommended candidates.

The council hopes to appoint a city manager during the week of Nov. 22 — after the municipal election, but before the new City Council takes office in early December.

While Hinchey is not up for re-election this year, three of the six aldermen are not seeking re-election.

Along with the timeline, Hinchey presented a one-page sheet titled “City Manager Profile,” listing educational and professional requirements — “at least five years of experience as a city manager or assistant and expertise in local government management and finance” — and five desired characteristics the council and some community leaders have expressed for the new city manager.

“The ideal candidate will serve as an adviser and partner to the City Council while leading and managing the staff,” the top bullet point stated. “He/she will value information and transparency and always act in a manner that places the best interest of the city first.”

The projected salary for a new city manager will be “up to $150,000,” Hinchey said.

The current city budget has the city manager's salary listed at $127,500.

During his time as acting city manager, Bilda has been paid his NPU salary of $188,801, with no shared cost by the city.

City leaders also want a candidate who is a “cheerleader” for the city and who can anticipate future trends and position the city for long-term needs.

“Some difficult decisions will need to be made, so while the individual will be a consensus builder and team player, he/she will also be decisive and timely,” the profile stated.

Former City Manager Alan Bergren resigned under pressure on Feb. 2, with lack of decisiveness being one criticism expressed by some aldermen.

Hinchey said an application booklet being written by Colin Baenziger & Associates was not yet completed.

She said she would provide a copy for the board when the booklet is published.

Hinchey said the search schedule is a bit condensed from the firm's usual time period of three months to conduct a city manager search, but firm officials have told the council that they believe the search can be done within the city's schedule.

If the schedule starts to slip, Hinchey said she would inform the utilities board.

“I do not feel we should compromise our search,” Hinchey said.

c.bessette@theday.com

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