Aldermen Annette Waddle and Ray Shipp said they believed the council should appoint an interim general manager from its staff to allow more time to find a suitable candidate to replace Mr Dixon.

Both said the recruitment process was "very expensive", with former alderman Graeme Beams revealing the process could cost more than $50,000.

Mr Beams said those costs went towards advertising the position, paying for recruitment consultants, flying candidates to Tasmania from other states and paying for accommodation.

In 2006, the council received more than 50 applications for the general manager's position, Mr Beams said.

Alderman Waddle said she believed the council already employed people capable of taking on the role.

"I do not mind the idea of someone in-house finishing off the remaining two years of (Mr Dixon's) contract," Alderman Waddle said.

"I don't see any problem with holding off on advertising the position for a while - there's no need to be in a rush."

Alderman Waddle said the council's $59 million flood levee project was a "huge problem", and senior council staff were probably the most qualified to see it through to completion.

After the departure of former general manager Chris Brooks in 2005, the council's resident and leisure services director Rod Sweetnam was appointed as interim general manager.

Mr Sweetnam served as acting general manager for nearly a year, before the appointment of Mr Dixon in 2006.

Alderman Ray Shipp said Mr Sweetnam had performed "admirably" in the role, and he had no doubt there were other council staff who would do well in the position.

Mr Beams said he also believed an in-house, interim appointment would be appropriate.

"It would give the council adequate time to assess which direction they want to travel in," Mr Beams said.