Mayor Emery Doughtie says city council is making progress in interviewing city manager candidates.

“I would say in the pretty near future,” Doughtie said of when a new manager is hired. “We’re moving forward, making progress with the people we’re talking to.”

Doughtie declined to say how many candidates have been interviewed, candidates who could be the replacement for Paul Sabiston, who resigned last April and has since taken a job as town manager in Smithfield.

The mayor said council hopes to find someone with a wide range of knowledge in city government affairs. “The main thing is being able to have good interpersonal skills, a person that can work through tough situations.”

The candidate, Doughtie said, should be a person employees feel they can go and talk to and feel like they can be treated justly. “We want someone approachable who can bring the public together with the proper department heads, someone to be proactive instead of reactive.”

Ed Wyatt has been serving as interim city manager since last June and helped lead the city through its upcoming fiscal year budget. “I feel he will stay as long as we want him to stay,” Doughtie said. “He’s committed to stay as long as we want him to.”