(a) At any time there is a vacancy in the office of county manager, the county commission shall begin a national search for a qualified county manager by retaining a national search firm that specializes in the recruitment of either or both of the following:
(1) city or county managers;(2) corporate or nonprofit executives. The hiring of a county manager shall conform with the antidiscrimination policies of the Jefferson County Personnel Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.(b) The search firm, after reviewing applications and conducting interviews, shall submit to the county commission the names of no less than three finalist applicants for additional interview and selection by the county commission.(c) The county commission may only hire a county manager upon a four-fifths vote of the county commission. The county manager shall be exempt from the county merit system.
