Officials plan 'special meeting' for City Manager interviews

TOPEKA (KSNT) — The city of Topeka is planning a closed-door meeting to narrow down the city manager search.

In a release from the City of Topeka, Mayor Michael Padilla has called a special meeting with the Governing Body to conduct city manager interviews. The meeting will not be televised due to technical difficulties. There will also be no public comment allowed at this special meeting.

The meeting consists of an executive session, where the Governing Body, Padilla and City Attorney Amanda Stanley will meet for eight hours to interview five city manager candidates.

A spokeswoman with the City of Topeka said the candidates will be announced next week.

Any written comments can be submitted to the City Clerk via email or in-person to the office at 215 SE 7th Street, Room 166.

Last month, the governing body received a list of 42 city manager applicants. Members later narrowed that list down to 14 semi-finalists.

Topeka’s previous city manager, Stephen Wade, was terminated in July of last year after serving less than a year in the role. A city spokeswoman said the reason for the termination was an “inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.”

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