By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster leaders have received more than a dozen applications for the city’s vacant city manager position so far, and are planning to begin interviewing candidates in the next few weeks.

During a Sept. 22 City Council work session, Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon said the city had received 13 applications to date for the position, and said several more candidates had expressed interest in the spot.

The city posted the vacancy on Sept. 13 after the council approved a new job description for the position. The person selected as the city’s new manager will replace former city manager George Henry, whose last day with the city was on Aug. 1.

According to the job description approved by the council on Sept. 12, the new city manager will “serve as the chief administrative officer and coordinate day-to-day administrative operations of the city. The city manager works under the guidance and direction of the elected mayor and City Council. This position directs and supervises assigned department heads and personnel in the Administration Department.” The city manager will also serve as the city clerk.

According to the job description, the city’s IT manager, planning and zoning coordinator, administrative assistant to the mayor and all department heads except the police and fire chiefs, human resources director and treasurer report directly to the city manager.

The city manager is a council-appointed position, and is either appointed or reappointed every four years. Alabaster’s 2016-2020 City Council, which will include incumbents Scott Brakefield, Sophie Martin, Russell Bedsole and Stacy Rakestraw and newcomers Rick Ellis, Greg Farrell and Kerri Pate, will take office during the first meeting in November.

Handlon said the job will remain posted until it is filled, but said the city is suggesting all interested candidates have their applications to the city by Oct. 7.

“We’d like to set up the interviews as soon after the 7^th as we can,” Handlon said.

Alabaster Human Resources Director Candace Connell said several of the applications are from out-of-state candidates.

City Council members said they would like Handlon and Connell to complete the initial screening of the candidates before recommending the top candidates for interviews with the entire council.

Handlon said Alabaster is looking to have its new city manager seated by the first council meeting in November.