SAFFORD — Two weeks after deciding to have the city’s Human Resources Department conduct the recruitment for a new city manager, the Safford City Council will be asked to consider forgoing a search and instead hire the man already doing the job.
During Monday’s regular meeting, at the request of Vice Mayor Arnold Lopez, the council will consider offering the position of city manager to Assistant City Manager Eric Bejarano on a one-year basis.
Bejarano is currently serving as interim city manager, following the termination without cause of former City Manager John Cassella on Dec. 8, 2025.
During the Jan. 26 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to use the city’s Human Resources Department to recruit for the position, rather than use an outside agency, saving the city upward of $32,000.
There is no state law requiring a city or town to recruit for any open positions.
Also at the Jan. 26 meeting, the council voted unanimously to increase Bejarano’s salary to $168,000 per year and guarantee his position as assistant city manager in the event someone other than Bejarano was selected as the permanent city manager.
The City Council will meet Monday, at 6 p.m., in the programming room of the Safford City-Graham County Library.
