City manager finalists named

Centennial has narrowed down its list of city manager candidates to four finalists, including Interim City Manager Dave Zelenok.

The other remaining candidates are John Danielson, Ed Green and Laurie Kadrich. A community open house is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 13 at the Centennial Civic Center, 13133 E. Arapahoe Road, to allow residents to meet the candidates.

Danielson most recently served as interim city manager of Atherton, Calif. He was forced to step down in January because the public state retirement system denied the town’s request to extend his interim contract for another year, according to the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News.

Green was fired as the Garfield County, Colo., county manager in January after holding the position for 14 years. County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky told the Glenwood Springs Post Independent the move was made without cause. Green is also a finalist for a city manager position with the City of Cape Coral, Fla.

After joining the City of Grand Junction in 2007 as deputy city manager, Kadrich earned a promotion to city manager only a few months later. She and Grand Junction parted ways in December 2011 citing fundamental philosophical differences. Kadrich previously served as city manager in Cody, Wyo., and assistant city manager in Gillette, Wyo. She was hired in January as the interim director of community development and neighborhood services for the City of Fort Collins.

The Centennial City Council appointed Zelenok as acting city manager in August after Jacque Wedding-Scott resigned. He was later promoted to interim city manager by a unanimous council vote. He has been with the city since 2007 as the director of public works. Prior to joining Centennial, he was the public works director for the City of Colorado Springs.

The Centennial City Council is currently reconsidering its requirement that city managers live within the city limits. As written, the municipal code states city managers must become a resident within 60 days and a permanent resident within nine months of appointment.

None of the four finalists live in Centennial. Zelenok commutes from Colorado Springs, but does own a house in Centennial that he rents out, according to city spokeswoman Allison Wittern.

The city’s timeline calls for a permanent hire in March or April. Executive recruitment firm Bob Murray & Associates was hired to spearhead the search in November, and the application deadline was Jan. 20.