AUBURN — The search for the next city manager has officially reopened after the City Council did not single out any finalists from the first round of applicants this past fall. 

The city’s initial search, ending September 2016, yielded some 40 applicants, but no one was hired. 

Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said Wednesday that some interviews came from the first applicant pool, but that the search never got to a second round of interviews.

“The council ultimately made the decision to reopen the search, and press the refresh button to open it back up for candidates,” he said.  

Auburn is still seeking a permanent replacement for Howard Kroll, who left the city on Sept. 9, 2016, for the manager’s post in Hermon. Since then, Denis D’Auteuil has been acting city manager. 

In late September, LaBonte said he was pleased with the application response during the first round, which he said included resumes from within the state, region and country. 

Both rounds of the city manager search have been conducted with assistance from the Maine Municipal Association.  

According to David Barrett, director of personnel services and labor relations for the Maine Municipal Association, a new slate of advertisements is running.

“The council decided to reopen the search,” he said. “(We) tweaked the ad a little bit, and put it back out in the same media venues.”

The city is paying Maine Municipal Association $4,000 for the search. 

The organization will accept applications until Feb. 1. Barrett said he expects the council to meet during the second week of February to review the resumes and decide on which candidates to invite for interviews. The council scores each candidate. 

The latest advertisement describes the position as someone who is a “respected leader and manager who is well versed in finance and budgeting, economic and community development and who will work collaboratively with city staff, the elected City Council and Mayor, the School Department and other city stakeholders.” 

The ad also describes the city of Auburn as a “dynamic community poised on the verge of additional economic revitalization and expansion.” 

LaBonte said the ad changes also make it clear that the city is offering pay comparable to Maine cities, and is open to the idea of residency options for “the right candidate.”

The advertisement also outlines that the city manager is selected by and reports to a seven-member City Council and mayor, and “he/she serves at its pleasure.” 

D’Auteuil, a Lewiston native, said Wednesday that he considered throwing his name into the mix for the city manager position, but ultimately decided against it.

On Thursday, D’Auteuil clarified that he received an offer during the first round of interviews, but later withdrew his candidacy. 

“It was a tough one,” he said of the decision. 

LaBonte declined to comment Wednesday on whether D’Auteuil was considered for the position.  

This is the second lengthy city manager search in Auburn since 2012, when a seven-month process led to the hiring of Clinton Deschene. 

The city manager’s position has seen a number of changes during the past few years. 

Councilors promoted Kroll to temporarily replace Deschene in November 2014, making Kroll the permanent manager in August 2015. Kroll had served as assistant city manager up to that point.

At the time of his resignation, Kroll did not have a new job lined up, but was hired by the town of Hermon as manager by the end of July.

LaBonte said the council is committed to getting broader community input once finalists for the job are announced. He said the council didn’t get to that point during the first round. 

“There will be a chance for folks to interact with finalists as part of that,” he said.

He said he’s also hoping the council will be close to a decision by March, before the city is in the full throes of the budget season.