Pearland starts narrowing city manager search as applications close

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the origins of a tax worksheet found by the city to be erroneous.

The City Council is anticipating having the city manager search narrowed down to an unspecified number of finalists by the April 24 meeting, Mayor Kevin Cole said.

The Pearland City Council held a special meeting before its regular March 27 meeting where consultant firm Strategic Government Resources provided an update on the ongoing city manager search after applications closed March 19.

At the March 27 special meeting, the council narrowed the pool of 42 candidates down to semifinalists, according to Cole, who did not specify the number of semifinalist candidates.

Previous City Manager Clay Pearson was fired Nov. 21 after serving in the role since March 2014. His removal took place after the city discovered a county tax worksheet error that left the city with a $10.3 million deficit and incorrect tax rates. City officials have described Pearson’s removal as an effort to bring the city staff a change and leadership and seek accountability after the discovery of the worksheet error.

Deputy City Manager Trent Epperson was selected to serve as the interim City Manager during the search for new leadership. Epperson previously said he applied for the open role.