Don Gerrish of Eaton Peabody Consulting Group conducts a public meeting Thursday at Lewiston City Hall to obtain feedback regarding the city’s search for a new administrator. City of Lewiston photo

LEWISTON — Choosing a new city administrator might be the most important decision the current City Council makes.

That’s what former Councilor Linda Scott had to say during a public meeting Thursday to obtain feedback regarding Lewiston’s search for a new city administrator. Others want the new administrator to be trustworthy, support city staff and provide a sense of urgency to solving Lewiston’s most pressing issues, including violence.

Scott was one of five community members in the audience who was not either an elected official or staff member, but residents were encouraged to contact the city’s consultant, Don Gerrish, with further comments.

Gerrish, from Eaton Peabody Consulting Group, led the meeting this week as part of a process to hire a new administrator after Heather Hunter resigned in late March. Gerrish has done more than 70 executive searches since 2009 after serving as a city manager in several municipalities, including Gorham and Brunswick. He’ll be paid $10,000, plus reimbursement of direct expenses.

The feedback received during the public meeting and through email will be used to formulate an advertisement for the job, which he said will be posted through several channels by next week. Applicants will see the feedback as well, he said.

Gerrish urged those in the audience to keep comments positive, and “not go backwards” regarding previous administrations.

Most comments centered on the importance of the administrator role and the need for the new hire to bring a fresh energy to growing the local economy.

Scott said Lewiston needs a candidate that “understands the unique challenges we face but also thinks outside the box.” She said that should include a renewed focus on pushing for economic development that “brings tax revenue to our city, and is not only focused on grants and subsidies from our federal government as the basis for growth.”

“Unfortunately, that’s what we’ve seen a lot, and we need an administrator who will really push for that,” she said.

Joe Philippon, a Lewiston police detective, said the new administrator needs to build trust by being out in the community. He said the most pressing issue facing the new administrator is the “epidemic of shootings.”

“The ramifications of not being safe impacts Lewiston’s economic outcomes,” he said, adding that there have been 21 confirmed shootings so far this year.

He said in 2012, the city “was beside itself” when there were three shootings, after which a program called Operation Hotspot was created under former longtime administrator Ed Barrett.

“We need that same sense of urgency today,” he said. “I’m hoping our new administrator is open to explore and empower a new course of action.”

Lewiston resident Ronnie Paradis said Lewiston needs an administrator that is truthful and a good communicator — someone who won’t simply try to please everyone.

“I want to hear the truth,” she said.

Paradis also said the administrator should listen to Lewiston’s senior population, many of whom are worried about rising taxes and a growing number are living in poverty.

Resident Matt Agren echoed Scott’s concerns about Lewiston’s tax base. He said the new administrator should have experience in a diverse community like Lewiston and have an understanding of its finances. He said that should include knowledge of nonprofits organizations and “what they can and can’t do for us.”

Agren also said the hire should understand that “the staff matter, and the people on the ground are the most important.”

Some said they feared the process chosen by the City Council will be too rushed, and not accurately reflect citizen concerns about the process, including the decision not to include any citizens on a selection committee.

Paradis said she was involved in two superintendent of schools searches that included community members.

“I don’t like the idea of just the mayor and council deciding,” she said. “I trust most of the councilors, but I do not trust the mayor.”

Scott said she was concerned based on Thursday’s turnout.

“I fear we’re not giving enough time for our stakeholders to really say what they want to see in a city administrator,” she said.

Mayor Sheline said the meeting was advertised on social media and through the city’s “normal communication channels,” but he encouraged residents to sign up for meeting notifications through the city’s website.

“This isn’t the only opportunity for the public to weigh in on our search for an administrator,” he said. “They can email Don Gerrish directly with their feedback and comments at any time or contact myself or their councilor.”

Ward 1 Councilor Josh Nagine said Friday that the turnout wasn’t what he’d hoped for, but that those who spoke “covered a wide range of concerns and gave valuable feedback.”

“I’m certainly hoping that our citizens and city employees are watching the process and are choosing to be engaged in less public ways,” he said.

Nagine said the administrator is “the most important position in our municipal government,” and there’s “plenty of opportunity to share feedback throughout the process.”

Gerrish said applications for the administrator position will be due by Sept. 17, after which he will review and make recommendations to the council on who should be interviewed. He estimated the city could get between 20-25 applications, which he’s hoping can result in roughly six interviews.

The initial round of interviews will take place the week of Sept. 30-Oct. 3, after which the council will select two or three finalists. A second round of interviews will be conducted Oct. 14-17, along with a public meet and greet. Gerrish said he hopes to have someone named the week of Oct. 21-24, but there have also been times when municipalities don’t select a new administrator following the first round of applications.

Agren said he wouldn’t be opposed to letting the process take two rounds or more.

“We need to find the best candidate, not just the candidate that fits the box,” he said.

Residents can submit comments to Gerrish at dgerrish@eatonpeabody.com.