Committee member says Beckley city manager hiring practices were fair

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A member of Beckley Common Council struck back on Thursday, September 26, 2024, after a candidate for city manager alleged the hiring process was unfair.

At-Large Councilman Cody Reedy, who was part of the selection committee which worked with the hiring firm Baker Tilley to choose candidates for the city manager job, said all candidates were given equal consideration in the search for Beckley’s first city manager.

Earlier this week, a local applicant alleged the committee gave preferential treatment to candidates from outside of the city.

Reedy and other committee members reached out to 59News to say the allegation was not true.

“No one ever put as the main recommendation that we wanted someone outside the city,” said Councilman Reedy. “Everyone was in agreement that we wanted to give Council the most qualified four individuals that we could, so they would have the best options to choose from.”

Reedy and Ward 1 Councilwoman Natalie Coots have both said the selection committee presented four candidates to Beckley Common Council.

The seven Council members then ranked the candidates until there were two selections and then made the hiring decision, said Coots.

Coots said on Tuesday that both of the top candidates had previous experience as city managers.

Beckley has never had a city manager, but Reedy said a candidate has been selected.

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