UPDATE — On Tuesday, Steubenville Council received an update from the city’s independent grant writer while a committee of city officials and citizens is reviewing 10 applicants for the city manager’s position. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — Efforts to select a new city manager are under way, with a committee of city officials and citizens charged with reviewing 10 applications for the position.

City Manager James Mavromatis, who has announced he will retire after March 16, said the city heard from a dozen individuals, but two missed the Aug. 29 deadline.

He said of the nine, three are local and seven are from out of town, with one from as far as San Diego.

Mavromatis said with that in mind, the committee may conduct some interviews virtually.

Comprised of two council members, two citizens and Mavromatis, the city manager search committee will make a recommendation to council, which will have final approval.

An advertisement for the position states applicants should have an undergraduate degree in public or business administration, accounting or a related field and at least two years’ experience in management or administration of a municipality or county or five years’ experience as an executive or chief fiscal officer of a business or government entity.

It states preference will be given to those with experience in municipal utilities, such as water and sewer; grant writing and economic development and membership in the International City Managers Association or Ohio City & County Management Association.

It notes the city manager heads all administrative agencies of the city, supervises purchasing for all departments and prepares an annual budget, with input from the city’s department heads, and oversees personnel matters for the city while serving as a public relations liaison between the city and other entities and attending all council meetings as a non-voting official.

The ad states salary and benefits for Mavromatis’ successor will be based on experience.

The city manager was among several officials who received an update Tuesday from Cassandra Kokoski, a grant consultant with Aspire Grant and Development of Pittsburgh.

Kokoski said with the consulting firm’s help, the city has been awarded $2.7 million in grants.

They have ranged from $1.3 million in Congressionally directed funds for the construction of a building with equipment used to remove leaves, sand and other materials from the city’s wastewater treatment system and $250,000 toward the Lovers Lane widening project to $55,506 for body cameras for city police and $25,000 to repair the shelter house at Beatty Park.

Also on Tuesday:

• Captain Inspector Dave Coladonato of the Steubenville Fire Department announced former assistant fire chief Michael Taylor recently was added to the International Association of Fire Fighters’ Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colo.

He noted Taylor served in the local fire department for 31 years and during that time, pushed for better equipment needed to reduce firefighters’ exposure to carcinogens, an occurrence that has resulted in the death by cancer for many firefighters who were at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001.

Coladonato, retired Steubenville firefighter Rick Dieguez and IAFF Local 228 President Phillip Williamson joined Taylor’s family at a ceremony in which his name was added to those of thousands of firefighters etched on the monument’s granite wall.

• The city received a request for assistance with electrical connections for next year’s Juneteenth celebration organized by Steubenville Second Baptist Church.

Third Ward Councilwoman Heather Hoover said several street vendors at this year’s event were having electrical problems.

• Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo and a local property owner complained that unoccupied apartments were being billed for sewer service after their water was disconnected.

Mavromatis said he will investigate the complaint.

• Council reappointed Jim Padden to the income tax review board, Tom Timmons to the board of zoning appeals, Mike Hummel to the board of engineering and building appeals, and Elizabeth DiGregory to the historic landmarks commission.

• Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon announced council’s finance committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. before next week’s regular council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss budgetary matters with department heads in preparation for adoption of the city’s next budget.