Commission schedules candidate interviews for city auditor position; three finalists named

A consultant retained by the city to recruit a charter‑required city auditor presented finalists and the commission agreed to move forward with in‑person interviews. Colin Benziger of Colin Benziger and Associates told the commission his firm had screened applicants against the charter requirement for a CPA and advanced three candidates: Rory Galter (internal auditor, City of Dallas), Abenay Bellachue (Agency for International Development), and Russell Kneedler (City of Chicago). Mr. Benziger said a fifth candidate without a CPA was not advanced because the city charter requires the auditor to hold a CPA. Nut graf: Commissioners said they would like to meet all three finalists in person. The commission set a date for candidate interviews — June 1 — with morning individual interviews and an afternoon full‑commission interview; Mr. Benziger will organize 25‑minute interview slots with short breaks between candidates and manage logistics at City Hall. Discussion and next steps: Commissioners preferred in‑person interviews and suggested a Saturday or Sunday to accommodate candidates’ work schedules; after calendar conversation they agreed to hold interviews on June 1 at City Hall, with early morning individual panels starting at about 8 a.m., and follow‑up full commission interviews in the afternoon. Commissioners asked for a short individual interview length because many had already spoken with the candidates; Mr. Benziger proposed 25‑minute individual interviews with five‑minute breaks. The commission did not take a hiring vote at the meeting; next steps are to conduct interviews, then convene a public portion if the commission chooses, and return with a hiring recommendation and any required action for appointment.