Tiverton’s search for a new town administrator is progressing but the town council president is not sure if the position will be filled by the time Chris Cotta, the town's current administrator, departs on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Only one application has been submitted so far since Cotta announced his departure in mid-October — “It’s very difficult to hire people this time of year because it’s during the holidays," council president Denise deMedeiros said. "People aren’t thinking of a career change.”

After Cotta’s resignation, there was talk of him staying on until the position is filled but that has not been confirmed or formally discussed by the town council yet.

When the time comes, all candidates for the position will be screened by the Personnel Board and then interviewed publicly by the town council. The public interviews will likely take place at an early December council meeting, after the new council members are sworn in.

So far, “some names have been thrown out there but we haven’t really discussed it as a group,” deMedeiros said.

Given the tight timeline, deMedeiros added, “It takes a while…and realistically, I think we will need an interim.”