And the finalists are…

The public will soon get a chance to meet and question the finalists looking to become the new head of the city’s Music and Entertainment Division. At Monday’s meeting of the Music Commission, Alex Lopez, deputy director of the Economic Development Department, which oversees the music office, said the application process closed as of the Memorial Day weekend and that city staff is working to have possibly three finalists selected to attend the commission’s July 10 meeting. Lopez said because of the highly public nature of the position she wants to see how the candidates interact with the commissioners and the public in an open setting. Details are still being worked out for commissioners and the public to give feedback after the session, which is expected to last an hour. The position has been effectively open since mid-February when Don Pitts, the previous program manager, resigned amid accusations that he twice failed to report a former employee who fraudulently received $2,500 from the city in an attempt to recoup travel expenses from a “zero cost” trip to Europe for city business. Since Pitts’ departure Lopez has assumed most of the duties of the position, which is expected to focus on ways to strengthen the city’s music industry beyond its live music and festival business.