Bill Wilder, owner of Wilder consulting and a retired human-resources chief for the City of Charlotte, said he had received about 40 applications for the post. Last week, Wilder met with the Town Council behind closed doors to say how many applicants were still in the running.

Wilder declined to tell a reporter that number, citing a confidentiality agreement he had signed with the town. He likewise would not says where the candidates were from, except that most were from the Southeast, including a number from the Carolinas.

“I just can’t offer more details than that at this time,” he said.

Wilder did say that he recently sent questionnaires to a number of candidates. He wants to know their reasons for applying, their experience in drafting budgets and challenges they have faced in their current posts. He said the next step would be to conduct in-depth phone interviews.

“That process could take a couple of weeks,” Wilder said.

Wilder said Selma needed a town manager with “strong local government experience.” “The person doesn’t have to be a current manager or even an assistant manager, but needs to be someone with a strong background in planning [and] economic development, because these are some of the needs that have been identified by the Town Council,” he said.

The Town Council could hear another update on the search process in about two weeks, Wilder said.