Bay City residents are getting a front row seat to City Hall’s biggest hiring decision of the year, with officials inviting the public to meet the four finalists for city manager next Tuesday at Bay City City Hall.
The finalists, Shannon Aulabaugh, Brian Chapman, Richard Hayman, and Almon Perry, will start the evening with an informal meet-and-greet before stepping into public interviews with the City Commission.
The meet-and-greet is set for 5 p.m., followed by individual commission interviews beginning at 6 p.m., according to the City of Bay City. Earlier in the day, candidates will tour municipal facilities and meet with staff, and attendees at the evening sessions will be able to offer feedback for commissioners to weigh as they narrow the field. All events will take place at Bay City City Hall, 301 Washington Avenue.
Meet the finalists
Shannon Aulabaugh currently serves as communication manager for the City of Boulder, handling media relations and public information for city departments, according to the City of Boulder. Brian Chapman is the city manager of Sault Ste. Marie brings experience overseeing municipal operations in northern Michigan, per the City of Sault Ste. Marie. Their municipal backgrounds stand in contrast to the other two finalists, who come out of higher education and private-sector communications roles.
In the city’s announcement, Richard Hayman is identified as a senior public relations manager at GUD Marketing, while Almon Perry is listed as assistant vice president for student success services at Mott Community College, according to the City of Bay City. The same news flash notes, “This is an important moment for the future of Bay City, and the City Commission encourages stakeholders to participate,” underscoring how seriously officials say they are taking public input at this stage.
The four names emerged after commissioners extended City Manager Dana Muscott’s contract while the search continues. Muscott had previously signaled plans to retire, and commissioners agreed to keep her in the role through June 30. She told officials there were 51 applicants for the job, according to WNEM. That combination of a large applicant pool and a short transition window helps explain why the commission is putting the finalists in front of the public.
Residents who want a say in the city’s next top administrator can attend the meet-and-greet and interviews in the City Commission chambers at City Hall next Tuesday evening. After the public sessions and internal staff meetings wrap up, community feedback gathered at the events will be shared with commissioners as they move toward selecting Bay City’s next city manager.
