Lopes To Release Schedule For Hiring New City Clerk On Wednesday

New Bedford City Council President Joseph Lopes says he'll release his schedule for hiring a new City Clerk around lunch-time on Wednesday.  After meeting with the city's personnel director, Angela Natho, Lopes says he finalized the plan last night.

Lopes had hoped the council would select a new clerk at Thursday's City Council meeting, but after former Councilor Denis Lawrence withdrew his application on Monday, other Councilors then asked for more time to study the applications of the other 38 candidates who applied.

City Clerk Rita Arruda is retiring at the end of June, and Ward Three Councilor Henry Bousquet is suggesting an interim clerk be named to give the Council more time to make its decision.