By Shari Phiel
Berthoud Recorder

If all goes well, Berthoud could have a new Town administrator within just a few weeks. After receiving 120 applications for the position opening, two coming in after the closing deadline, the Berthoud Board of Trustees have narrowed the list to two finalists.

The two applicants are Frank Bell, the current Town manager in Telluride and David Niemeyer, village manager of Oak Brook, Ill. A third candidate, Tony Mincu of Farmington, N.H., was chosen but he has removed his name from consideration after accepting another position.

Bell and Niemeyer will be coming to Berthoud next week to take a tour of the area, meet with Town staff and interview with the Board of Trustees. Berthoud residents will also have a chance to meet the two finalists and provide feedback to the trustees.

At the Tuesday, Aug. 25 Board of Trustees’ meeting, Gary Suiter — Berthoud’s interim Town manager — proposed a schedule for the interviews which was approved by the trustees.

On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the candidates will spend the morning either flying or driving into Town. Between noon and 5 p.m., each candidate will have lunch followed by a tour of the Berthoud area. From 5:30 until 6:30 p.m., and then from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the public will be invited to meet the first candidate and then the second candidate.

The two candidates will then spend Thursday, Sept. 3 meeting with department heads from Town staff in the morning and interviewing with all seven members of the Board of Trustees in the afternoon.

At the Tuesday board meeting, Trustee Jeff Hindman suggested the tours and public meet and greet be conducted separately to allow the candidates an opportunity to function independently of each other.

As three candidates were initially scheduled to be interviewed, Suiter asked the trustees if they wanted to proceed with just the two candidates or select a third from the list of 10 finalists pared down from the 120 applications previously.

Trustee Michael Patrick thought “two would be enough for now.” Suiter did note the two candidates coming in were the front runners.

“At this late date, two is the way to go,” added Trustee Dick Shepard.

For updates on public meet and greets with Town administrator candidates visit www.BerthoudRecorder.com or follow us on Twitter – BerthoudRecordr.

Meet and Greet Sept. 2
The Town of Berthoud will host a “Meet and Greet” event for the two finalists for the Town Administrator position on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at the Berthoud Community Center, 248 Welch Avenue, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The finalists are Frank Bell, town manager of Telluride, and David Niemeyer, village manager of Oak Brook, Ill. This is an opportunity for citizens to talk face-to-face with the finalists.