CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Cleveland City Council has picked Joe Fivas as its new city manager.
Janice Casteel, who had served as city manager since 2007, retired May 31 after a 42-year career working for Cleveland.
In all, 63 applicants responded to a nationwide search conducted by The Mercer Group and submitted to a vetting process conducted by a citizen advisory committee appointed by the City Council. The council interviewed four finalists in early June.
On Thursday, the council voted 7-0 to appoint Fivas, subject to contract negotiations, for the city manager post. Fivas, who won out over three other finalists, has 19 years of government leadership experience in Indian Trail, N.C., and towns in Michigan.
As soon as the meeting opened, Councilman Richard Banks announced he might have to leave early and nominated Fivas for the position, despite the fact that no discussion had yet taken place and the meeting agenda did not list the city manager vote as an agenda item. It did list a candidate discussion toward the end.
Councilman David May expressed surprise that the city manager choice would be made "right out of the chute" and said Fivas ranked as his "least favorite" of the four finalists. He and Councilman Avery Johnson attempted to appoint finalist Angie Carrier, but failed in a 5-2 vote.
Carrier has 16 years of municipal experience within Tennessee and now serves as the development services director for Johnson City.
"My family and I are excited about the opportunity and we look forward to being a part of the community," Fivas said in a phone interview after the meeting. "This is a wonderful opportunity."
Fivas said he would meet with city representatives next week to work out the contract details.
The Cleveland city manager pay grade ranges from $96,168 to $150,403, according to the city's online compensation plan.
Vice Mayor George Poe, who has voiced frustration that no finalist came from the Cleveland area, said residents had asked him to move forward with the decision as soon as possible.
"That's what they wanted, and I believe we have done what the citizens wanted," Poe said.
In related business, Cleveland Finance Director/City Clerk Shawn McKay received praise and support from a number of councilmen. McKay applied for the city manager position, but did not make the the list of finalists.
Councilman Dale Hughes said he planned to introduce a resolution to create a chief financial officer/assistant city manager position that McKay could fill.
Banks pointed out that the council could only create the position, but not appoint anyone to it. He also said that he hoped the new city manager would keep McKay and Assistant City Manager Melinda Carroll on board.
Carroll now serves as the interim city manager.
After the meeting, Hughes said he would have voted for McKay to serve as the next city manager if he had been a finalist.
"I'm thankful for the faith they have in me and for recognizing my hard work," McKay said.
The council also thanked consultant Larry Wallace, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation from 1992-2003, for facilitating the city manager search process. Last year, Wallace served a pivotal role in Cleveland's search for a new police chief.
"I don't know what we would have done without Larry Wallace," Banks said.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow on Twitter @pleach_tfp.