One of the three finalists for the Polson city manager job has withdrawn his application.
Polson Mayor Lou Marchello said Kenneth Decker of Upperco, Md. told the city last night that he was no longer interested in the position. Decker, a Libby native, is currently the town manager and zoning administrator for Hampstead, Md., a town approximately Polson’s size about 30 miles from Baltimore.
Decker was one of three finalists the Polson City Commission had invited to the city for interviews next week. Marchello said the interviews for the remaining candidates, Lawrence Anderson of Missoula and Todd Crossett of Cocolalla, Idaho, will continue as planned.
Anderson is a former Missoula County Commissioner, who has also worked as the city’s chief administrative officer and on the city council. He currently works for Congressman Denny Rehberg. Crossett is a businessman and former Bonner County, Idaho, commissioner.
The two men will be interviewed Friday, May 1 at Polson City Hall. The commission will then go into an executive session – which is closed to the public – to rank the finalists, before holding an open house for the public, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Polson Bay Golf Club restaurant.
After nearly a year and two prior unsuccessful searches, this is the city’s third attempt to fill the position. The initial top candidate took another job the day after verbally committing to Polson, while a second wouldn’t take the offer despite a unanimous council vote in her favor.