The Farmville Town Council met in a closed session Wednesday, Feb. 12, to learn more about prospective candidates seeking the position of town manager.

Town Council voted Oct. 8 to retain The Berkeley Group, a local government consulting firm, to help in an executive search for the next Farmville town manager following the retirement of Gerald Spates Aug. 26.

Since Spates’ retirement, Dr. C. Scott Davis was appointed as interim town manager.

Davis previously served as the assistant town manager.

The Berkeley Group, based in Bridgewater, worked with town officials in the application and selection process. According to Executive Manager James Stegmaier with The Berkeley Group, 36 applications were received for the position.

“Of the 36 applicants, 12 were selected for phone interviews,” Stegmaier said.

During its closed session meeting Wednesday, Stegmaier presented those 12 applications to council members who then narrowed the candidates.

Following the closed session, Farmville Mayor David Whitus would not say how many applicants now remain, but did say the council expected to select a new town manager by the first week in March.

Town council will hold another session Friday, Feb. 21 to continue the selection process.