Residents urge community role in hiring as council appoints interim city manager

Lindsay — Residents pressed the Lindsay City Council on the process to select the next city manager, urging the council to include local community members on any screening and interview panels, and the council later returned from closed session to appoint Tyler Crocker as interim city manager.

Public comment began after the chair limited remarks to items to be discussed in a forthcoming closed session and explained a three-minute limit per speaker and a 15-minute total allotment. Marcy Rivera of Lindsay asked the council to ‘‘make the committee…two council members, two people from the city of Lindsay, and a community person’’ and said the next manager should be someone who ‘‘really cares about Lindsay.’’

A speaker identifying as Dr. Henry emphasized inclusivity, urging the council to ‘‘include us as well in the selection process’’ and recommending that residents with hiring experience participate in screening and interviews even though the council retains final hiring authority. Noella and another resident, Dennis, offered support for a unified council approach and assistance during the transition.

The council recessed into closed session. When it returned, an unidentified official reported that the council had appointed Tyler Crocker ‘‘as their interim city manager while they search for our permanent city manager.’’ The transcript does not include a recorded vote tally or indicate who moved or seconded the appointment in open session.

What happened next: The council did not state a timetable for the permanent search in the recorded remarks. Public commenters asked the council to consider a selection committee that includes Lindsay residents and one community representative; the meeting record does not show a formal commitment from the council on that committee composition.

The council had previously approved the meeting agenda earlier in the session; that procedural motion was seconded and carried, according to the record.