By Aug. 31, the deadline to submit applications for the position of Evanston City Manager closed, GovHR, the search firm engaged by the City, had received 70 applications.
According to information provided last week to City Council members, City administrators and GovHR have proposed a quick timeline for interviewing candidates, presenting three finalists at a public meeting and hiring a new City Manager by Oct. 19.
On Sept. 18, GovHR will send to City Council a confidential recruitment report that will include the names and the current positions of the 70 applicants, along with a list of recommended candidates for the Council to consider interviewing.
An executive session is scheduled for Sept. 24, at which Council members will review the applications and winnow the pool to five-to-seven candidates to interview. At this meeting, Council members and GovHR will determine further procedures, which may include community interview panels and a community forum. Interviews by Council members will take place during the week of September 28.
A second round of interviews with Council members and community panels, as well as a community forum, will take place during the week of Oct. 5. The following week will see Council identify the final candidate and GovHR begin negotiations, so that on Oct. 19, Council can approve the contract for the new City Manager and announce the information to the public.