AUBURN -- A month before the city council will lay eyes on applications for city manager, councilors still need to agree on the requirements -- for the review committee.

Councilor William Graney gathered names for a committee to examine resumes for the job opening created by John Salomone's resignation in August.

Last month, Graney told the council he has eight possible members. Since then, five confirmed their interest in the committee.

Councilor David Dempsey stressed that the council should not get hung up on a specific number, but rather strive for people from different walks of life. He was concerned that by setting a target amount of members, councilors would have to pass requirements for the review board to decide who they would turn away.

Former warden Fred Richardson, church volunteer Jill Fandrich, former councilman Mike Cuddy, Auburn school board member Ginny Kent and business owner Susan Marteney have agreed to sit on the committee that will reduce the number of applications to three or five.

Currently, Clerk Debra McCormick has received a dozen resumes in response to a series of advertisements in newspapers, magazines, newsletters and Web sites for the manager's position. Candidates from Vermont, Michigan, Connecticut and central New York have sent their resumes.

Councilor Matt Smith has been pushing to set a timeline for the interview process to fill the job by early next year and approved of the five members from the list so the councilors can begin. He said he had no problems with the people on the informal committee.

Read the full report in Thursday's editon of The Citizen.