Council conducts interviews, deliberating on city manager hire
The search for Vestavia Hills’ next city manager took another step forward in April as the City Council conducted interviews with its four finalists for the job.
Interviewed were:
- Jeff Daniel Downes, executive assistant to the mayor, City of Montgomery
- Kevin Cowper, assistant city manager, City of Auburn
- Christopher Miller, deputy executive director, South Alabama Regional Planning Commission
- Greg Mims, former city manager, City of Fairhope
A citywide referendum passed in 2010 approved Vestavia Hills transition to a mayor-city manager form of government, and Randy Robertson, first to assume the mantle, began working in the role in January 2012 in an interim basis. Robertson officially became city manager in November 2012, but resigned in March citing a need to relocate to care for his ailing father-in-law.
According to a 2012 report from al.com, Cowper took part in contract negotiation for the position before it was offered to Robertson.
“The Council is in the process of deliberating and discussing which candidate they will select,” said Jim St. John, Vestavia Hills fire chief and interim city manager. “I’m confident that their selection will be well qualified and well received.”
St. John gave no projected timeline for the Council to make a decision on which candidate, if any, will be offered the position.