Council appoints six-member city manager search committee to work with VLCT consultant

The Newport City Council appointed a six-member search committee on Feb. 2 to oversee the city manager recruitment process with a consultant from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT).

Councilors approved executive-session consideration of confidential applicants and then named the committee: Councilors Andrew Touchette and Carter Finnegan; Director of Public Works Tom Bernier and Police Chief Travis Bingham as staff representatives; and community members Kathy Valley and Lizzie Alexander. The committee will be supported by the VLCT consultant and city staff as needed.

Council described the committee’s role: develop a community/job description, advertise the position, screen confidential candidate applications in executive session, and present a short list of finalists to the council for further interviews. Dominic Cloud from VLCT will assist with outreach and steps of the search. The council indicated it expects the search process to produce a slate of finalists in mid-spring and to name a new manager in early summer if the process proceeds on schedule.