Portsmouth Searches For New City Manager

PORTSMOUTH, NH — With the upcoming retirement of City Manager John Bohenko, the city has begun an active search for a qualified candidate to take his place. Earlier this month the city hired GovHR USA to help with recruitment. On Wednesday, the firm invites residents to give input on what qualities they would like to see in the next city manager — including experience, management style, qualities and traits.

City officials are hoping the chosen candidate will start the job before Bohenko's scheduled departure at the end of this year. Bohenko has been Portsmouth's city manager since March 1997. Before he was hired, Portsmouth underwent a high turnover rate for its city managers, having had three different city managers in a six-year period, according to city documents. Bohenko has a bachelor of science degree in public administration from Bentley University and a master of business administration degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

As part of the search process, the City Council has formed a City Manager Search Committee, tasked with developing a process and timeline for recruiting the right candidate. The committee consists of Mayor Jack Blalock, Assistant Mayor Cliff Lazenby, Councilor Nancy Pearson and Councilor Chris Dwyer.

The City Council is hoping to begin advertising for the position next month, after having developed a profile of what qualities the city will look for in candidates. Deadline for submitting resumes will likely be in August, according to the City Council's draft timeline for recruitment.

GovHR will then review resumes, interview candidates and review their backgrounds, narrowing the candidate pool down to eight to 12 candidates by September. The City Council will then review and interview candidates from that group, and conduct contract negotiations by October. According to the draft recruitment timeline, the new city manager will begin the job in November or December.

Wednesday's forum will take place at 7 p.m. in City Hall's Conference Room A. Those who cannot make it to the forum may submit their input online or email GovHR CEO Joellen Cademartori at portsmouth@govhrusa.com.