Armidale Regional Council mayor Simon Murray said he could not confirm the top selection until a contract comes signed, sealed and delivered.

Councillors farewelled interim chief executive Chris Rose at the meeting in May, who was hired under controversial circumstances when councillors were given just one hour to make a decision on his employment.

They wanted the whole council to select interview panel members, selection criteria and the recruitment agency that would inevitably pick council’s new chief executive. 

The candidates for the interview process were hand-picked by Cr Murray, after councillors lost a bid to revoke his power to tap the interview panel members.

The discerning group included Glen Innes Severn Council mayor Steve Toms, ARC deputy mayor Dorothy Robinson, councillors Diane Gray and Ian Tiley and University of New England vice chancellor Annabelle Duncan.