The DeKalb City Council became one step closer to hiring Mark Biernacki as the city’s top administrator at Monday’s city council meeting.

The city began its search for a new city manager during Winter Break after Jim Connors announced his retirement in July.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to DeKalb,” Biernacki said. Biernacki was the community development director for DeKalb for 10 years, but he left in 1998 to become the director of development for Elgin.

If he is hired, he first will refamiliarize himself with the city and the city staff, Biernacki said.

Former city manager Jim Connors completed his last official day Monday. Connors had been city manager for six years.

The council approved the first reading of a motion to hire Biernacki 5-3. The first reading of an ordinance setting the annual salary of the city manager at $122,120 also was approved.

Prior to Thursday’s council preview meeting, two others were being considered for the position, said a source close to DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen and an unnamed third candidate from outside of Illinois also were in the running.

The city manager is the chief administrative officer of the city government, according to the city of DeKalb’s city manager job description. Biernacki will be responsible for the “oversight of every employee and activity within the organization.”

The manager directly supervises six department heads, an assistant city manager and an executive secretary. He or she reports directly to the city council.