Lavonia Begins Search for New City Manager

The City of Lavonia will soon begin its search for a new City Manager.

City Manager Gary Fesperman has announced he plans to retire at the end of the year.

At their work session last night, city council members discussed how to proceed with the search.

Fesperman handed out copies to the council and mayor of the requirements for the job and recommended the Council and Mayor have someone in place by the summer.

“My recommendation is that we try to have somebody ready to go where I can work with them in September, October, November, and December,” he told the Council. “I’ve built in the budget five months worth of salary for a hiree. I’m going to have a lot to teach them and get them up to speed on.”

Fesperman became the City Manager in Lavonia in 1997.

He told the council whoever they hire will need to wear a lot of hats and be experienced in finance, city ordinances, grant writing, and have good people skills to name a few of the duties the job entails.

After more discussion, the council and mayor decided to begin advertising for a new city manager in April with a view towards having the new manager on the job July 1st.