Jane Howington of Dayton, Ohio will be Kalispell’s new city manager.
At a press conference Friday morning, Mayor Pam Kennedy announced the city reached a deal with Howington, and she will begin her new job Aug. 4. Howington has signed an employment contract, Kennedy said, and the city council will vote at a special meeting Monday to allow the mayor to sign the contract.
Kennedy said she felt relieved that the city manager hiring process, which has gone on for much of this year, has finally concluded successfully.
“It will feel great when she’s on board,” Kennedy added. “I anticipate that things will flow very smoothly.”
Howington’s annual salary will be $112,500, with an additional yearly payment of $5,000 deferred compensation that will be allocated to a retirement plan. As assistant city manager of operations for Dayton, a city of about 170,000, Howington’s current salary is $119,600, according to the Dayton Daily News. The deal allows Howington to maintain her current level of compensation, and Kennedy said the city manager’s budget has been modified such that the salary does not draw additional money out of the general fund. The original salary range offered by the city when it advertised the position was $90,000-$120,000.
“We believe we’ve been able to negotiate a contract that is respectful of our budget constraints,” Kennedy said. “She’s had many years as a city manager and a number of years as a city planner.”
Howington’s employment package also includes 80 hours per year of paid vacation for her first year of employment, and 120 hours of paid vacation in subsequent years. The city is providing a car and fuel, medical and dental coverage, and up to $20,000 in moving expenses.
City council will give Howington an annual performance evaluation, but there is no term of employment in her contract and can be terminated at any time, with three months severance. The term of employment was a key sticking point in the city’s offer to its initial pick, Matt McKillip of Kokomo, Ind. McKillip declined the offer last week due to another job opportunity and a wish for a longer employment contract from the city.
“We don’t anticipate that will be the case,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy also praised Interim City Manager Myrt Webb for his service to Kalispell. Webb has held the interim post for the last eight months and will assist in Howington’s transition, but he said details on exactly how that will work have yet to be decided.
Howington takes over management of the city at a time when Kalispell faces a number of challenges, including an extremely tight budget and dangerously low cash reserves, severe cutbacks to Parks and Recreation Department programs, the vacancy of the Fire Chief position, as well as a recent vacancy by the head of the Economic Development Department.
The potential also exists for large changes in the makeup of the city council, with four council members and the mayor up for reelection this year. Kennedy, however, running for another term, said there’s a good chance the city council will look much like it does now after Election Day.
“I don’t know that there will be radical changes in the city of Kalispell’s leadership,” Kennedy said. “We’ll wait to find out what November will prove.”
Howington has held her current position since 2007, and prior to that, worked as the city manager of Oxford, Ohio for seven years. A town closer to Kalispell’s size, Oxford has a population of about 22,000, and is home to Miami University.
In her June 3 interview with council, Howington emphasized her experience directing Human Resources for Dayton, managing 2,400 employees, and her extensive experience negotiating union contracts. Her previous professional experience also includes working as town administrator of Lunenburg, Mass. from 1987-1994; planning director of Acton, Mass. from 1986-1987; and chief planner of Methuen, Mass. from 1983-1986. Howington holds a master’s degree in public administration from Miami University of Ohio, and a master’s in urban and regional planning from Texas A&M University.
She did not immediately return a call for comment.