Parham said Monday that he had yet to speak with Berry but expected that he would focus on promoting Petersburg and boosting economic development.

“The ink is still wet on the contract,” Parham said. “We have never had (Berry’s) type of leadership in Petersburg, and I am looking forward to the city benefiting from his experience.”

Clay Hamner, a contracted spokesman for Petersburg, said Berry was approached last week and “said yes” on Monday. Whether Berry will stay on “is up in the air right now,” Hamner said.

The previous assistant city manager made $140,000 annually and received benefits, Hamner said.

The city is currently recruiting an executive search firm to help fill more than half a dozen critical roles at City Hall. Employee turnover has been high in the wake of a fiscal crackdown precipitated by years of unbalanced budgets.

Petersburg began the fiscal year July 1 about $19 million in arrears and $12 million over budget. The City Council voted to slash employee pay, cut money from schools and cancel a popular youth supper program to make up the difference.

But those moves did not yield the savings anticipated this summer, officials with the Robert Bobb Group warned the council last week.