Members of the subcommittee this week asked Mr. Peace to draft the terms of reference for a request for proposal to pick an employment firm that could include considering candidates working in the private sector.

“We need to look under every stone,” said Mountain councillor Terry Whitehead. “If we have to spend up to $60,000, then by god, let’s do it.”

By agreeing to a RFP process to hire a recruitment company, councillors are expecting to spend between $50,000 to $60,000, and take an additional six to eight weeks to search for an individual.

If councillors had opted to use the city’s human resources firm it has on contract, the cost would have been upwards of $30,000, and could have been concluded before Mr. Peace left the city June 30.

“I want someone completely independent (from council),” said Mr. Whitehead.

The employment firm, depending upon council’s preference, will provide a short list of candidates to council. Politicians will then make the final choice.

Mr. Whitehead was adamant the terms of references be broad enough to include candidates from the private sector.

“We need to think outside the box,” he said. “Don’t keep it too narrow. We need to cast that net a little broader.”

Added Stoney Creek councillor Maria Pearson, “I also want to turn over every stone. I want to have the right person. (The candidate) needs to have some experience with council.”

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, although not opposed to hiring a large recruitment firm, preferred to keep the search local and use a company the city has used in the past. By using a human resources expert who is on contract, the city would have saved some money, he said.

Mr. Eisenberger said although there are qualified candidates beyond Hamilton, he expects a number of the candidates will come from within the city’s senior management staff.

Mr. Eisenberger also expressed misgivings about hiring a person from the private sector.

“There is usually a more difficult transition from the private to public sector,” said Mr. Eisenberger. “It’s not an easy bridge to cross.”

The mayor also pointed out ultimately the best candidate could be from within the city’s own senior management. There are a number of people thinking about applying for the position, he said.

“I think we have strong candidates,” said Mr. Eisenberger.

Mr. Peace met with the city’s human resources representatives this week and will consult with individual councillors as he crafts the terms of reference for selecting the recruitment firm.

The last time Hamilton conducted an extensive search for a city manager to replace the fired Doug Lychak was in 2002 when Bob Robertson was plucked from British Columbia.

In early 2004 Mr. Robertson was let go and then-mayor Larry Di Ianni selected Mr. Peace as city manager. Mr. Peace had been Hamilton’s Fire Chief and emergency services general manager at the time.

In March Mr. Peace informed city officials he would not have his contract renewed and would leave the corporation June 30.

If councillors have not selected a person to replace Mr. Peace by the end of June, Corporate Services General Manager Joe Rinaldo will become the interim city manager.