OGDENSBURG — The City Council met as a committee of the whole Monday to discuss hiring a recruitment firm to find a city manager.

The council will choose between three firms: the Bonadio Group of Syracuse, Voorhees Associates of Deerfield, Ill., and an undisclosed local candidate.

While no selection will be made until the matter is brought before the council in a regular meeting, council members appear to be close to making a decision.

“Of the three, the Bonadio guys were the only ones to come present to us,” said Deputy Mayor Michael D. Morley. “I think they gave us the best breakdown of what they’re going to do.”

The council wants a search firm to screen potential candidates, said Mayor William D. Nelson.

“Screening is essential so you get the guys who are serious about this,” he said.

After a search firm is hired, the council will move forward with other preliminary work for the hiring, including revising the city charter to limit the term of a city manager. Currently, the charter calls for managers to serve an indefinite term.

The council also wants more say in developing the manager’s contract.

“Until you have a situation, you don’t know if something is wrong with your contract,” said Councilwoman Jennifer Stevenson.

The language of former city manager Arthur J. Sciorra’s contract made it difficult for the city to part ways with him.

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