Following two meetings this week with finalists to fill the open city administrator post at Festus, a potential hire has been identified, Mayor Sam Richards said today, April 23.
The closed-session meetings took place Tuesday and Wednesday at City Hall.
“We are in the process of negotiating with a candidate,” Richards said. “I am not revealing his name at this time.”
If negotiations are successful, City Council members could vote on approving the candidate as early as their next regular meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 27, he said. A council work session is set for 5:30 p.m.
“We’re hoping to have it on the agenda Monday, but won’t know until later,” Richards said.
Greg Camp departed the city administrator position Feb. 20 to take a similar job in Silverthorne, Colo. City officials began searching for Camp’s replacement shortly after Jan. 14, when the Silverthorne Town Council voted to hire him as town manager.
Festus leaders initially set a deadline for applications of Jan. 30, but extended the application period to March 13. Officials said 34 people applied for the position.
Later, they said a list had been shorted to five for consideration and interviews by the council.
Richards declined to say how many were interviewed during the closed meetings.
Michael Christopher, the city’s public works director, has served as interim city administrator while continuing his public works duties since Camp left.
Open council seat update
City leaders also have been looking for people interested in filling the City Council Ward 2 seat vacated by Staci Templeton at the end of the council’s April 13 meeting.
“We’re in the process of searching for a candidate,” Richards said. “We have three people who have expressed interest in it.”
He said no deadline has been set for those who want to apply for the seat, and he has not yet set a target as to when he wants it filled.
“I have no timetable for filling the seat,” he said.
Christopher previously said only those who live in Ward 2 are eligible for consideration and the appointee will hold the seat until the election of April 2027, when it will be placed on the ballot for another two-year term.