When the Sebring village manager’s position came open last year, no one had any idea that it would remain unfilled for close to a year.

Village council dealt with a slim list of applicants and then COVID-19 hit.

“This was not anticipated,” said Jack Haney, interim village manager. “With COVID-19, it was even harder to get applicants.”

The present requirements for a village manager state the accepted candidate would have six months upon being accepted to move inside the Sebring limits.

But council looked at the requirement and at the limited number of applicants and came up with a proposed charter amendment that is designed to attract more applicants.

The following will be what voters will be deciding on Nov. 3:

“Shall the Charter Amendment — Section 5.02 of the Charter of Sebring Village be amended to read: The Manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of his / her executive and administrative qualifications, and need not be a resident of the Municipality when first appointed but shall reside within a 15-mile radius to the Village of Sebring within six months after appointment. Council may extend this time period for 30 days up to a 90-day total extension. No one elected or appointed as a member of Council is eligible to be appointed to the position of Manager until two years after the end of his / her term on council.”

Mayor James J. Harp said, “If voters say no, then the candidate must live in the city. If they vote yes, then a candidate could live (within the allowed radius.)”

He said the idea was that if a local person with a family lived within the 15-mile radius, they could continue to live in the home while the family member served as city manager.

“If it is passed, we are hoping for a wider field of applicants,” Haney said.

Council did have a couple of candidates who were qualified but they couldn’t come together on the financial end. Between that and the pandemic, it has been a long stretch for Haney.

“I am retired,” he said. “I didn’t think I would be here this long. I am not looking for any long-term positions.”

Haney retired as city manager for the village of Newton Falls, in Trumbull County, coming to Sebring in June 2019 to replace former manager Richard Giroux, who was let go.

Harp said Haney may have to hold on a little longer.

Should the proposed amendment be approved by voters, council will likely begin looking for applications at the beginning of 2021.