Search continues for new Richmond city manager

Richmond Mayor Tom Butt has called a special City Council meeting for Tuesday to appoint a new acting city manager. The council fired its previous city manager, Carlos Martinez, last month amid allegations of unfair labor practices and criticism from city workers.

Butt said in a Facebook post that acting City Manager Henry Gardner’s term will end Tuesday “due to limitations on his availability to continue serving.”

Tuesday’s meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Services Building, 440 Civic Center Plaza. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the city manager issue before the council adjourns to closed session, where it will discuss the appointment of a new acting city manager.

Adding that the recruitment process typically takes six to eight months, Butt said in his post:

“I hope that City Council will take action to appoint a well-qualified individual who can lead the city administration while we undergo a recruitment process for a permanent city manager.”