Goodrich-On Oct. 5, four candidates for village manager were interviewed during a special village council meeting.
Village Councilman Richard Saroli said the field was narrowed down to four after about an hour-and-a-half of deliberations on Sept. 15. A total of 17 had applied for the position after longtime Village Manager Jakki Sidge vacated her office in March following a whirlwind of controversy stemming from a 3-2 vote at a special meeting Feb. 11, when the village council approved a motion requesting her resignation. Sidge had served as the village administrator for about the last 15 years. Since then the position has been vacant.
The opening was posted in The Citizen and other publications in the Genesee County area last month.
‘Each of the four candidates had a half-hour to answer questions from the council,’said Saroli. ‘We were impressed with all that had applied. The group is very diverse and very well-organized.?
The village manager position will be four days per week (32 hour per week) and pay $38,000 per year with no benefits as outlined by the Plante & Moran comprehensive review of village operations released last month.
‘The candidates all understood the terms of the job,? he said. ‘The position will be permanent and either a one or two-year contract will be considered by the council.?
The candidates are:
nWilliam Delaney, a Grand Blanc resident and former Grand Blanc Township supervisor.
nMichael T. Szukhent: a Flushing resident and Flushing Area Chamber of Commerce executive.
nLinda Kingston, a Grand Blanc resident and former Grand Blanc Township clerk.
nJakki Sidge, a Goodrich resident and former Goodrich village manager.
Saroli said a special village council meeting was to be held Oct. 7 to further discuss the next village manager. Then at 7 p.m., Oct. 10 at the regular council meeting the council will vote on the next village manager.
‘Hopefully, we can have a decision on Monday,? added Saroli. ‘If not, it’s back to the council for discussion.?