Finding the right person to lead the Watertown Parks and Recreation Department has been tougher than expected.

The city has been looking since early fall and despite interviewing qualified candidates, the search is about to open up again.

The new position is the result of controversy after billing and finance errors were discovered in the department.

This time officials are hoping to end the search by expanding the search.

"We're looking at Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany area," said City Manager Mary Corriveau.

The obvious hope is that a new search will produce that right person.

But some members of city council say that this process is taking so long because the application itself is too specific.

"I think that the education requirements are so narrow that it's limiting a lot of good people that would have skills to run a department," said Councilman Jeff Smith.

Smith says otherwise qualified candidates are passed over because they don't meet the tough education requirement.

City officials counter, telling us the position is open to a variety of candidates with diverse education backgrounds.

"It includes business administration, public administration, recreation administration, and a couple of other degrees as well as related fields," said Corriveau.

And it's not just education.

Experience is a major factor.

Officials say it has been difficult finding candidates who posses both.

"If they don't have the experience, but have the education, they don't qualify for the position either," said Corriveau.

The city will start taking applications after the first of the year and in the meantime John VanBroklin will continue to serve as interim supervisor of the department.