Hamilton launches a $60,000 hunt for a new city manager

Hamilton is officially advertising for a new city manager, casting its net far and wide.

Lora Fontana, executive director for human resources, said the recruitment process has started to fill the vacant position that will include using an executive search firm.

The city will also be creating a selection panel comprising the mayor and all chairs of council’s standing committees.

The city has budgeted about $60,000 for using the executive search firm.

“We have been consulting with some of the key stakeholders in the community, understanding what are some of the key issues, the challenges and what they want to see in a city manager,” Fontana told more than 350 people at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce’s City Manager Breakfast event Oct. 25 at the Sheraton Hamilton.

The process, including interviews by the selection panel, will begin in early January, she said.

The candidates will then be shortlisted and then a second round of interviews will be conducted.

Hamilton is looking for its fifth city manager since amalgamation after Chris Murray, who took over the job in 2009 and oversaw a workforce of about 7,800 people, left to become Toronto’s city manager.

Mike Zegarac, who has 17 years of experience with the city, has been acting city manager since Murray departed.

Councillors have said they want the best candidate for the position, but also will look closely at internal candidates.

Hamilton’s first city manager after amalgamation was Doug Lychak, followed by Bob Robertson who was hired from British Columbia.

He was soon fired.

Glen Peace, the city’s fire chief, then became city manager.

He was followed by Murray, who had overseen the completion of the Red Hill Valley Parkway.