Cambridge Committee Accepts Seven-Phase City Manager Search Timeline

CAMBRIDGE — January 26, 2022 — Cambridge's Government Operations Committee voted unanimously to launch a seven-phase city manager search, targeting a late-May appointment before City Manager Louis A. DePasquale retires at the end of June. Vice Mayor Alanna Mallon, chairing the meeting, walked committee members through a timeline running from January 17 through late May and reviewed a list of roughly two dozen proposed community focus groups, ranging from CRLS students and tenant councils to disability advocates and environmental groups. The committee's most contentious exchange centered on screening committee composition, with Councilor E. Denise Simmons reversing her prior-term position to recommend against council nomination of members, saying the approach "felt a little bit more political and less organic." Mallon said she would consult city legal staff about whether a closed subgroup could handle final selection, with the committee to have at least four city councilors and roughly 15 community representatives. Executive search firm Randy Frank LLC is leading the search, with CoUrbanize and Cortico under new city contracts to support online and small-group community engagement.