By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Pelham officials are preparing to interview the top three candidates for the Pelham Civic Complex hockey director position in the coming weeks, and some city leaders are calling for increased accountability for the position.

During an Aug. 19 work session, Pelham Councilwoman Karyl Rice said the city has narrowed the list of candidates for the position to the top three candidates, and said the decision could come to the City Council soon.

“We will meet with the top three candidates next week, and will bring one or two to the council to have the opportunity to make the final decision,” Rice said. “We are getting close.”

During a June meeting, the council approved funding for the hockey director position at the complex. If a new hockey director is hired, he or she will be paid a salary of between $60,000 and $78,286.39, according to the job description. If hired, the new director will be the first since former hockey director Jeff Cheeseman stepped down in 2010.

Civic Complex Director Danny Tate previously said the hockey director position is necessary to help combat declining enrollment in the city’s hockey program.

City Councilman Ron Scott said he would like the city to lay out “very specific goals” for the new hockey director to meet with the program.

Tate praised the top three candidates, and said whoever is hired will help lead the hockey program in the right direction.

“Our final three are fantastic, fantastic candidates,” Tate said. “Two of them are actively managing a program now, and the other has great management skills, and could walk in and do a great job.”