The town of Bayfield has reopened its search for a new town manager after contract negotiations with a finalist selected in April fell through.
The two original finalists – Joseph Darter and Joseph Kerby – were introduced at a public meet-and-greet in early April. The Bayfield Board of Trustees selected one finalist, whose name was not disclosed, said Mayor Tom Au.
Negotiations with that finalist were ultimately unsuccessful, Au said. He declined to share details, citing the confidentiality of executive session discussions.
“As soon as we couldn't reach an agreement, we moved on and started a new search,” Au said. “We got a bunch of candidates, and then we narrowed it down to four, and now we're down to three finalists.”
This marks the third time the board has attempted to fill the position, which was previously held by Katie Sickles.
Sickles resigned in October 2024 following calls for her termination by several board members.
The town’s initial hiring process ended when several finalists withdrew their applications.
Despite the setbacks, Au is optimistic about the latest search.
There was much more interest from potential candidates this time around, he said, and inquiries about the job are still rolling in.
“I’m pretty sure we’re going to end up with a town manager after this,” Au said.
The three finalists will be announced at the Board of Trustees meeting on June 17. A meet-and-greet will be held on June 20, and more details will be announced at a later date.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
