The Buchanan City Commission has voted to hire a new city manager.

At a meeting this week, Tony McGhee was selected for the position out of three finalists interviewed.

McGhee is currently the vice president of development services at Abonmarche, and has previously worked for Cornerstone Alliance. During his interview, he told commissioners priorities for Buchanan should include long-term planning for the water system, helping the schools, and attracting new housing.

“If we don’t have the housing for people to hire workforces, they’re not going to want to be here in the community,” McGhee said.

Before the vote to hire him, Mayor Mark Weedon told McGhee he’s hoping the new manager can come in and bring the team together, something outgoing manager Tim Lynch has been able to do.

“What we’ve received from Tim’s due diligence to not only bring our staff together in times of turmoil, and unfortunately, during the interviews some of the topics that we experienced over the last year or so were brought up and what we’re looking for out of our new city manager  and as much as Tim has proven that it’s not indicative of who we are,” Weedon said.

McGhee comes in after a period of instability with the attempted recall of one commissioner and the resignation of the former mayor. He told commissioners Buchanan is well-poised for growth as long as it can provide new residents with what they want in a community.

McGhee beat out Berrien County Election Administrator Kathryn Klemesrud and Caro, Michigan City Manager Scott Czasak for the job. Contract negotiations now begin so he can start early next year.