Thursday, June 17, 1999
City in no rush to hire administrator
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
VILLA HILLS — City council postponed making a decision Wednesday night on a recommendation from Mayor Steve Clark to hire a city administrator.
Council members, particularly Bob Flaherty and Robert Kramer, think they don't yet have enough information to hire a full-time city administrator who could be paid as much as $45,000 annually.
“We haven't had an administrator since 1997,” Mr. Kramer said, “and the sky isn't falling.”
But Mr. Clark, a first-term mayor who took office in January, said a full-time administrator is needed.
Mr. Clark said he has been basically doing most of the work an administrator would be hired to perform.
“My concern is that things are going to start falling through the cracks,” Mr. Clark said.
Mr. Flaherty said he isn't necessarily against hiring an administrator, he just wants more information about what the person will do.
Several members also said they want to make sure an administrator is necessary for Villa Hills, which has a annual budget of about $2 million and a population of 7,739.
Most Northern Kentucky cities, including some that are smaller, have full-time administrators.
After doing the work of an administrator for six months, Mr. Clark said the need exists.
The mayor expressed concern that by postponing a decision it would be several months before an administrator could be hired.
But several members of council made it clear that they wanted more information before advertising for an administrator, receiving resumes and conducting interviews.
Councilmember Mike Sadouskas said the Northern Kentucky Area Development District has offered to conduct an assessment of the city's operations to help determine if Villa Hills needs the position.
He intends to contact the district today to get the process started.
The assessment “will help me make up my mind,” Mr. Flaherty said.
After about 30 minutes of discussion, council voted to wait until its next regular meeting July 21 to discuss the position.
Mr. Clark, who has prepared the city's budget, has proposed a compensation package of $64,000 for an administrator. That includes salary, benefits and the use of a city car.
The salary has a high end of $45,000 a year, but Mr. Clark said he doubted the city would have to pay that much for an administrator.
If council decides to hire an administrator, Mr. Clark said he will form a committee of himself, a member of council, a resident and one or two neighboring city administrators to interview candidates and make a hiring recommendation to council.
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