Morris announces three finalists in city manager search; public interviews set for Feb. 19

The Morris City Council announced three finalists in the search for a new city manager after a national recruitment managed by David Dronen and Associates (DDA).

Mayor Waters said the search began with 17 applicants, that DDA vetted those candidates to eight, and that the hiring committee (the mayor, a councilmember and three staff members) narrowed the list to three finalists: Jason Baker, Holly Wilson and Zoe Johnson. The finalists have agreed to appear for interviews.

Interviews are scheduled for Feb. 19 and will follow the same public format used in the previous search: three hiring stations with rotating candidates. A five-member citizens panel will sit in the library for one station, the council will conduct its portion in the council chambers, and another station will be at City Hall conference room. The firm will provide a standard set of questions; councilmembers may propose additional questions through the hiring committee before finalization.

Council members asked whether the council must select one of the three finalists; staff said the council could restart the process if it found none of the finalists acceptable. The council plans to select a top candidate and an alternate and will follow council appointment procedures when making an offer.

Mayor Waters thanked the hiring committee and the firm for their work and encouraged the public to look for posted bios and interview details when they are published.

Procedural notes: finalists’ bios will be posted and the council portion of interviews is open to the public (other portions of the day are not public participation sessions).