Process to select new city manager underway

By Lisa Brody

With a finite end date for Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus' current tenure on June 30, 2023, the process of securing his replacement is well underway, Mayor Therese Longe reports, with a first round of interviews to take place via Zoom at special city commission meetings on Wednesday, February 8 from 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., and Thursday, February 9 from 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

The first round interviews follow a nationwide search for a new city manager for Birmingham.

The commission is inviting members of the community to attend the special city commission meetings in person, which will be held at the city's Department of Public Services, located at 851 S. Eton. However, all candidates will be interviewed virtually via Zoom. Interviews can be watched both on the city's local cable access channel or live streamed at bhamgov.org/watch.

Following the first set of candidate interviews, the top candidates will be provided with a tour of city facilities and will then meet with city department heads and administrative staff on Wednesday, February 15. A public meet and greet event will take place with the candidates on the evening of February 15, from 7-8 p.m. in the lower level of Baldwin Public Library.

“I am pleased to invite the community to join us at the Baldwin Public Library to take advantage of the opportunity to visit with our top candidates,” said Longe. “Attendees will be able to meet candidates to ask questions and discuss their candidacy for the Birmingham City Manager position.”

The city invites the community to share feedback about the candidates on the city’s public engagement platform, Engage Birmingham, at engage.bhamgov.org. City commissioners will review feedback received from staff and the public, and conduct a final round of interviews before making their selection.

It is anticipated the new city manager will be announced in the spring.