Ruth Jeno, Red Bank Commissioner

• INTERACTIVE: Antarctica

The Red Bank Board of Commissioners decided to delay their vote Tuesday evening on the town's next city manager.

The commission called a meeting for Dec. 13 to make their choice.

During the commission's agenda session Tuesday afternoon, commissioners unsuccessfully tried to narrow their list of candidates.

After Commissioners Ruth Jeno and Floy Pierce said they were hesitant to name their top picks.

"I'd rather not say anything right now," Pierce said.

During the agenda session, Commissioner John Roberts asked if discussion and voting could be postponed another week, saying he couldn't make the night meeting because he was going to a birthing class with his wife.

Mayor Monty Millard and Vice Mayor Jones objected to delaying the vote.

During the agenda session, the commission also decided to cut the city manager salary from $90,000 to $75,000.

Candidates for the job include Randy Hemann, director of a downtown development agency in Salisbury, N.C.; veteran Red Bank Fire Chief Mark Matthews; local CPA Randy Fairbanks; Marty Von Schaaf, head of the Hamilton County Republican Party and BMW client adviser; and businessman Jim Folkner, who helped spearhead the movement to recall Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield.

Former City Manager Chris Dorsey was fired in a 3-2 commission vote in October.

At the evening commission meetings, some residents took the opportunity to voice their endorsements.

"We don't need a politician. We don't need an accountant. We don't need a media hound. Nor do we need a car salesman," said Carla Quinn, head of Red Bank Neighborhood Pride Association. "We need a city manager who is going to revitalize our community."

Quinn said she wanted Hemann for the job.

No other candidates received resident endorsements.