The city council is in negotiations with Interim City Manager Bill Avera to bring him on as permanent city manager.
“Right now, we’re having negotiations with Bill Avera,” said Mayor Ignacio Velazquez.
Last July, Avera took over city manager duties from former City Manager Clint Quilter, who resigned to take a job as public works director in Inyo County.
“I think it’s still early only because, obviously, we’re in the negotiation process,” the mayor said.
He said the city reached out to candidates statewide, as well as neighboring states, for the position. They used recruiting firm, William Avery & Associates, Inc., out of Los Gatos to complete the search.
“We received over, I believe, 50 applicants from throughout California and neighboring states, including Arizona,” said Councilman Victor Gomez.
The councilman said the city began to have conversations with Avery about the process as far back as the summer, when Quilter left the position.
He said the city and Avery eventually narrowed the list of candidates to five prospects out of 15 finalists to interview for the position, including Avera.
“The recruitment process ended in early December,” he said.
The mayor said Avera was certainly at the top of the list of recruits. Still, he cautioned that the process isn’t over yet.
“We want to make sure we understand each other going into this,” he said.
Councilman Robert Scattini said Avera has done a “a good job” for the city.
“He’s definitely in the driver’s seat,” he said.
