NEWBURGH – City Manager Todd Venning’s last day in Newburgh is March 31 and with just one meeting left this month, the city council has yet to name a successor.
Council members and Venning engaged in a lively and sometimes heating debate Thursday night about a succession plan.
Venning said he gave members three months to find a replacement with none named at this point and he drove his message home in an exchange with Councilwoman Tamika Stewart.
“I gave you 90 days’ notice and you did nothing. It’s not an ‘up and leave,’ it’s 90 days’ notice, and you did nothing,” he said. “We have done stuff,” Stewart maintained. “You have done nothing substantial. We’re waiting until March 23rd for you to vote on an interim,” Venning argued.
There is a general consensus to conduct a national search for the next city manager, but the council will have six months to select that individual once an interim is named.
That person could be former chief of staff and now Deputy City Manager Michael Neppl. But it is unclear if he will be offered the job, would take it and would even apply for the permanent post.
Comments