City Council will appoint a new city manager on Nov. 12 at the City Council meeting.

The candidates for the position, named Wednesday, are Rodolfo D. Espiritu, Roger W. Fraser, Anne Marie Gaura, Raymond B. Keller and Susan K. McLaughlin. Former city manager Mark Biernacki announced his retirement in February, and left effective June 14. Espiritu, a candidate for the position, has been serving as interim city manager since Biernacki’s retirement.

First ward Alderman David Jacobson said the process started with 49 applications and was narrowed to 11. Mayor John Rey said the applicants who were chosen met the criteria the City Council set.

“We met in a conference and decided which of the candidates measured up to our criteria,” Jacobson said.

Rey said the council is now down to five candidates who will be interviewed on Friday. The list will be narrowed down to two or three candidates who will be invited back for a second interview on Nov. 9.

“At that point, we will decide who meets the criteria and extend them an offer to become city manager,” Rey said.

Jacobson said choosing a new city manager is a long process, but through that process the best candidate is chosen.

“We need time to advertise the position, then there’s the committee and interview process,” Jacobson said. “I wanted to get the ball rolling sooner; unfortunately, that’s not how it worked out.”

Jacobson said the process takes a little long, but the results will be positive. It takes each committee a full day to interview the candidates.

“We recently appointed a new mayor, president and committee and leadership positions, so the new city manager will be coming in at an interesting time,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson said the city manager has to be a leader and a visionary, and all the candidates meet this criteria.

“The city manager will the CEO of the city, is the public relations person, they deal with all the press releases as well as many other duties,” Jacobson said. “They are the day-to-day coach of DeKalb.”

Rey said City Council will make up one of the interviewing teams that will decide who the final candidates are. Community members are also participating in the interviewing process.

“A number of community members have approached me with an interest in being involved,” Rey said. “I have also approached certain individuals of the community to help.”

There are two community member interviewing teams that will decide who the final candidates will be.

“We’ve also extended invitations to NIU students, as well,” Rey said.

Rey said the city manager should have experience in the field and experience with a community like DeKalb.

“The individual who will be selected is expected to fulfill the requirements and expectations for that office,” Rey said.