Mayor: Next council will choose city manager

In one of its first major decisions, Hamilton’s next council will decide who will become the city’s top bureaucrat.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said the new council, which will start its four-year-term on Dec. 1, will select the replacement for outgoing city manager Chris Murray.

Murray is leaving to become Toronto’s new city manager after serving the same position in Hamilton since 2009. Murray officially leaves Hamilton Aug. 13.

“I sense that this council ought not be the decision maker,” said Eisenberger. “The next council can be the one.”

Although a search process has yet to be created to replace Murray, Eisenberger said he informed acting city manager Mike Zegarac and the city clerk to “refresh our approach from last time.”

He expects Hamilton will follow a similar process that was conducted in 2009 when Murray was tapped as one of the number of internal candidates who applied for the job. Eisenberger said a search company could sift through applications from applicants both outside the city and internally. Murray had been with the city since 1995.

“I would hope some of our good internal candidates will apply,” said Eisenberger.

A shortlist of possible candidates will be identified and councillors will be part of the interviewing process.

Eisenberger wouldn’t say if the city should hire from within.

“We have good bench strength.”