Homewood committee interviews candidates for first city manager as city prepares government change

A five-member committee appointed by the Homewood City Council interviewed candidates for Homewood’s first city manager position in a public, livestreamed session conducted under the Alabama Open Meetings Act.

The committee questioned two candidates in detail: Josh, identified in the interview as director of development services for Jefferson County, and Chase Wagner, a candidate who described himself as a former city manager and fire chief. Committee members said the hire is intended to bridge the city’s operations now until a newly elected mayor and smaller council take office after an August municipal election and the November 1 transition tied to a September referendum that changed Homewood’s form of government.

The interviews focused on candidates’ executive experience, approaches to financial management and risk assessment, and early priorities if hired. Councilor Nick Sims (Ward 3, Place 1) asked both candidates for their executive-level credentials and how they would oversee local government operations; both described multi-jurisdiction experience overseeing planning,…