KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene Mayor Jay Kahn expects the city’s search for a new city manager to take four to five months following Elizabeth Ferland’s decision to leave the position for a new job in Claremont.

Kahn discussed the upcoming transition and the process for finding Ferland’s successor during a call-in appearance Thursday morning on WKBK Radio’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell. He said the city will need to carefully consider the qualifications it wants in its next municipal leader while keeping the search open to a broad pool of candidates.

Ferland, who is expected to remain in Keene through early February, has accepted a city manager position in Claremont, where her husband and their business are based.

Kahn praised her work in Keene, pointing to her municipal management experience, communication skills and ability to move projects forward by securing funding from sources outside the city budget.

“She’s a good communicator. She’s straightforward. But she’s also compassionate, and this blend of skills that she has, those are going to be tough to replace,” Kahn said.

He also credited Ferland with helping advance projects through outside funding, including rail trails, airport modernization and energy improvements.

“Elizabeth, by the way, was really and has been very skilled at tapping non-municipal money to move our projects forward,” he said.

Search committee expected to lead process

Kahn said he anticipates appointing a search committee made up of city councilors and other community representatives. He will likely chair the committee, which will be responsible for establishing the qualifications and priorities for the next city manager.

The committee is expected to consider hiring an experienced recruitment consultant to help identify potential candidates. Kahn said that could be particularly important in a competitive market where qualified municipal executives may be reluctant to publicly disclose that they are considering a move.

A recruiter could also help the city reach candidates who might not otherwise apply through a traditional public search.

Among the qualities the committee may look for are familiarity with New Hampshire state government, an understanding of available funding opportunities and experience securing outside financial resources for municipal projects.

Kahn also said the city should not rule out its existing staff, including Deputy City Managers Andy Bohan and Rebecca Landry, as potential candidates.

However, he cautioned against creating the impression that an internal candidate has already been selected or is favored before the search begins.

“I don’t want to presume that somebody inside is, you know, a candidate, because what that can do is discourage people from applying if they think that the path is already greased for somebody to be anointed,” Kahn said.

He added that internal candidates should have the same opportunity to be considered as anyone else.

“If we’ve got the right candidate in house, then let that be the decision of the committee,” he said.

The committee would ultimately make a recommendation, but the Keene City Council will have the final say on the appointment.

How much of the recruitment process will be open to the public, particularly when it comes to introducing finalists, has not yet been determined. Kahn said the city will need to weigh transparency against the potential of losing qualified applicants who want to keep their interest confidential.

He suggested the committee should take guidance from its recruitment consultant on how to handle that portion of the process.

Interim manager expected during transition

With Ferland expected to depart in early February, Kahn anticipates the city will need an interim manager before a permanent replacement is hired.

He does not expect the new city manager to be in place until the summer, a timeline that could allow the selected candidate to make personal and professional arrangements before beginning around the start of the next fiscal year.

Ferland is expected to help maintain continuity during the transition, particularly as the city works through its budget hearings. Kahn said her involvement with department directors and deputy-level staff should help keep municipal operations moving during the change in leadership.

He also pointed to Keene’s experienced finance director and the City Council’s Finance, Operations and Personnel Committee as important resources for managing budget and personnel matters during the interim period.

Kahn said the city has experienced staff and established financial oversight in place to help navigate the months between Ferland’s departure and the arrival of a permanent successor.

The immediate next step will be forming the search committee and determining how the recruitment process will move forward.

Listen to the full interview: