Salisbury City Council has narrowed its search for a city manager to fewer than 10 candidates.

City Council met Monday afternoon at City Hall for about three hours to review applications for the position. After the meeting, Mayor Paul Woodson said council has chosen six people, and may end up with seven, who will be interviewed by a panel of city residents at the end of the month.

The panel will consist of “community leaders,” Woodson said. The participants on the panel have not been finalized yet, he said.

On Jan. 29 and 30, the remaining candidates will be interviewed by the panel and go through an assessment center conducted by Developmental Associates, a search firm that is assisting the city in the hiring process.

The cost of  Developmental Associates’ services is capped at $20,325.

Interim City Manager John Sofley was one of more than 50 people who applied for the position, but Woodson would not say whether Sofley is on the short list of candidates chosen for further review.

“We’re in no hurry” to get the search done, Woodson said. “If we don’t find somebody in this group, we will restart it again.”

The job description for the city manager position says the starting salary will be between $115,000 and $175,000. It says salary is negotiable depending on qualifications.

Doug Paris was Salisbury’s city manager for less than two years before leaving the position last June.

Contact Reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.