Bangor residents on Thursday evening said they want whoever becomes the next city manager to be someone local.
Roughly a dozen residents attended the public meeting to offer thoughts on what qualities, education and experience they want Bangor’s next city manager to have. Don Gerrish from Eaton Peabody Consulting Group, the group selected to lead the search and hiring process, oversaw the meeting.
While residents offered varying thoughts on what skills, traits and priorities they want their next city manager to have, most agreed they want their next city manager to be from Maine and have some knowledge of Bangor.
“I’d like them to reside in Bangor, if that’s a possibility, because I think you get to know it when you’re living in it,” said Dominick Rizzo, Bangor resident.
Whoever is selected will replace outgoing City Manager Debbie Laurie, who announced last month that she will step down from the top leadership position on May 30.
Laurie’s retirement will end a more than 30-year career with the city, the last three of which were spent as city manager. Despite Laurie’s short tenure as city manager, she has faced chronic challenges, including rising housing prices and a swelling homeless population, in that time.
While Rizzo said he’s certain the new manager will have all the necessary skills and qualifications, he’s more concerned about whether they will be empathetic, compassionate, optimistic, kind and willing to work with all members of the community, especially its most vulnerable.
In addition to being a critical thinker, pro-family and in favor of growing businesses, Bangor resident Mike Furrow said he feels Bangor’s new city manager should prioritize lowering crime, drug use and homelessness.
Kate Dickerson, Maine Discovery Museum executive director and Bangor resident, said she’d like the next city manager to prioritize assisting local nonprofit, service and cultural organizations because “we’re struggling statewide.”
“I think we need to have someone with a vision for how we move forward and, to be totally blunt, really put Bangor on the map for Maine,” Dickerson said. “We’re in the middle of the state and we have a lot to offer here and we do not talk about it.”
Steve Sleeper, who lives in Bangor’s Fairmount neighborhood, said the city’s new leader should be someone “younger” who’s comfortable with rapidly changing technology, especially artificial intelligence.
“It’s a whole new world coming, so we’re going to need somebody who’s comfortable with that technology so we can integrate it into how the city operates,” Sleeper said.
Gerrish reminded residents that, while a manager can influence or make recommendations, the elected city councilors are responsible for making decisions for a community.
The city plans to place an advertisement for the open position next week and accept resumes until Feb. 25. Gerrish said he hopes to receive 15 to 20 applications for the position but said only three or four candidates may have the qualifications or experience the city is looking for.
“It’s a hard market out there for this position,” Gerrish said. “The numbers and quality of the people we get have decreased over the years. But, it only takes one person.”
City councilors will review the applications and decide who they want to interview in early March. Finalists for the position will meet with all city department heads and undergo a complete background check, Gerrish said.
Both the firm and city officials hope to have a new city manager selected in the first week of April.
Aside from having the right experience and qualifications for the job, Gerrish said the right candidate will need to “fit into the community” and “have the vision to bring everyone together.”
“You need somebody who’s going to bring Bangor forward,” Gerrish said. “You can’t stagnate.”
