Helena City Manager Finalists Announced Amid Legal Review of Recruitment Process

The Helena City Commission in Montana has announced three finalists for the city manager position, following the retirement announcement of the current city manager, Tim Burton, at the end of 2024. The finalists include Janet Hawkinson, town manager of Palisade, Colorado, with background in community development and urban planning; Douglas Schulze, with over 36 years of municipal leadership experience including recent service in Banning, California; and Alana Lake, executive director of the Montana Public Service Commission with over 10 years of experience in military and federal law enforcement. Public interviews and town hall meetings with the finalists are scheduled for early December, with the commission’s final deliberation expected on December 10. This recruitment process has been affected by a lawsuit alleging violations of Montana’s open meeting laws during the initial subcommittee recruitment phase, which the city denies, asserting compliance by involving all commission members in later proceedings. The city maintains the recruitment process complies with legal standards surrounding transparency and public engagement. Each finalist brings a distinct set of professional credentials and experiences relevant to municipal management, from urban planning and community development to public utilities regulation and federal law enforcement. The interviews will be conducted publicly, with provisions for virtual participation via Zoom, enhancing accessibility for community stakeholders. The city commission’s actions underscore the importance of a transparent and thorough selection process for a key municipal leadership role amid legal scrutiny and public interest. This development impacts local governance and offers insights into administrative procedures in Montana’s public sector management. Helena’s process may serve as a case study for other municipalities managing executive transitions and legal challenges related to governance transparency. Legal challenges and subsequent procedural adjustments highlight the ongoing complexities cities face in balancing recruitment efficacy and adherence to open government laws.