City seeks administrator
The city of Newcastle is seeking a city administrator, despite not having all the details on the job description or pay hammered out. The Newcastle City Council voted on Feb. 21 to begin advertising the position with pay depending on experience.
As previously reported in the August 2022 story, “City will no longer have an engineer,” the council decided to not hire an engineer to replace Mike Moore, who retired on Aug. 15.
Instead, the council said it hoped to hire a grant writer to aid the city in securing funds to complete projects. At the time, council members stated that they believed a grant writer would benefit the city more than an engineer.
On Feb. 21, Councilman Don Steveson said that hiring a city administrator whose top priority would be grant writing is a way the city can tackle important city infrastructure needs.
“Grant writing should be the top priority in order to get streets fixed. I think this is the way we accomplish that,” he said.
Steveson noted that the position would not oversee all city operations, and that department heads would be the leaders in their own departments.
“This position is a resource,” he said.
Councilman Tom Voss said it is crucial that the council clarify the job description.
“We don’t want them (the administrator) messing with the chief of police or anything,” Voss said.
Mayor Pam Gualtieri suggested that the council wait to vote on the job description until specific wording can be added. Council members could then vote during the March 6 meeting.
“I think we need to move on,” Councilwoman Ann McColley said, suggesting that the city begin advertising the position.
Gualtieri supported McColley’s idea, stating that the city could advertise the position as one with pay depending on experience. Meanwhile, the council could work out the “little pieces” in the job description and pay scale, she said.
To view this discussion, go to the News Letter Journal’s YouTube channel to watch the Feb. 21 Newcastle City Council meeting.
