Aspen\u2019s elected officials will meet behind closed doors Tuesday afternoon to evaluate potential finalists for the open city manager position.<\/p>\n
Finalists are expected to be announced as early as Wednesday or as late as Friday, according to Drew Gorgey, vice president, western region, for the headhunting firm of Peckham & McKenney<\/a>, which is leading the national search for the city.<\/p>\n Interim city manager Sara Ott confirmed Monday she is one of the 64 people who applied for the job, which became open in January after the forced resignation<\/a> of longtime city manager Steve Barwick.<\/p>\n Gorgey said three candidates have withdrawn for various reasons.<\/p>\n He added that Peckham & McKenney invited 16 applicants<\/a> to the prescreening interview round, which has been completed.<\/p>\n Gorgey conducted the screening interviews by video conference and via phone.<\/p>\n While Gorgey will be focusing on the top 10 candidates in executive session, Aspen City Council will be able to see cover letters and resumes of all the applicants.<\/p>\n Council can choose as many finalists as it wants but typically it\u2019s between three and five candidates, according to Gorgey.<\/p>\n Candidates have to agree to be a finalist, and if he or she does, their application is open to public inspection.<\/p>\n \u201cCity Council has many choices, and I anticipate a robust and competitive final interview process,\u201d Gorgey said via email. \u201cEverybody needs to remember the only ones with the authority and the responsibility to make a hiring decision are the five members of City Council. Nobody else.\u201d<\/p>\n Ott has been doing the job since she negotiated a contract with a previous council in February.<\/p>\n Ott, who has served as assistant city manager since May 2017<\/a>, is the interim city manager through Sept. 1 at a salary of $195,255, per the contract.<\/p>\n If she is not selected for the permanent position, Ott will return to her assistant city manager role at her former salary of $162,843.<\/p>\n Council will be conducting interviews of the finalists in public on Aug. 8-9, followed by an executive session to discuss the hiring of a new city manager.<\/p>\n