Gina Tron
BARRE — The city is asking residents to help shape its search for the next city manager through a public survey and an upcoming community meeting.
The survey, available through the city’s website, is part of the second phase of the search process and asks residents what leadership qualities and priorities they believe Barre’s next manager should have. Residents can also share their thoughts in person during a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Aldrich Public Library.
The city’s former manager, Nicolas Storellicastro, resigned to become the deputy city manager of South Burlington in early August. City Manager Search Committee Chair and City Councilor Amanda Gustin said the committee wants to ensure the community plays a meaningful role in selecting Barre’s next chief administrator.
“We are looking for public feedback on leadership qualities and first priorities for a new manager,” she told The Bridge. “Overall, the idea behind the public outreach is that while we have a lot of expertise and experience on the committee, we don’t know everything, and we want the whole community to weigh in.”
The first phase of the search focused on creating a community profile to help introduce prospective candidates to Barre. During a July 28 city council meeting, Gustin noted that public input for the profile included tabling at Currier Park, a public survey, an employee survey, and a forum. The profile highlights the city’s ongoing recovery from recent flooding and “efforts to build a resilient, growing, and vibrant community.”
“Attracting new housing opportunities, accessing state programs that reduce development costs, and growing the tax base and population are the cornerstones of Barre’s resilience strategy,” the profile states. “The City Manager will help achieve this vision by completing neighborhood stabilization projects in flooded areas, leading a high-performance municipal government with diversified revenue streams, and positioning Barre as a community of distinction within the central Vermont region.”
Applications for the position will remain open through Aug. 14. First-round interviews begin on Aug. 13. Finalists will be discussed on Aug. 27 and the city council will review them on Sept. 1.
Gustin confirmed the city has already received applications for the position, which has an annual salary range of $145,000 to $165,000.
“We’re working hard to find the right fit for Barre City, and we have an ambitious timeline, but we’re feeling good about it,” Gustin told The Bridge.
More information can be found at
barrecity.org/city-manager-search/.
