LEBANON — City Council made short work Tuesday of filling the top city job, approving a three-year contract for George “Pat” Clements on a 7-0 vote and swearing him in as city manager.

        “I've never seen morale as high as it is today amongst all employees,” Councilman James Reinhard said.

        Mr. Clements has been acting city manager for five months.

        The city will pay him $94,000 a year, reimburse him about $10,000 for costs related to moving into Lebanon and will buy his Turtlecreek Township house for at least $304,000.

        Mr. Clements was hired last May for the newly-created job of service director, with responsibility for supervising a half-dozen city departments.

        He became interim city manager when council changed hands in November and City Manager James Patrick was pressured into resigning.

        “I'm very appreciative of the support I've gotten, not only from this board but from my staff and the citizens of Lebanon,” Mr. Clements said.

        Fresh from an Army career, Mr. Clements had never worked in municipal government before coming to Lebanon. Nonetheless, he has quickly won the confidence of city employees as well as council.

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