By Kim McDarison
Following 35 minutes of closed-session deliberation Wednesday during a special meeting of the Whitewater Common Council, the body reconvened in open session and voted in favor of installing John Weidl as city manager.
Weidl has served the city as interim city manager since August.
Council voted unanimously in favor of hiring Weidl at an annual salary of $115,000, with a salary increase to $119,600, taking effect January 1, 2023.
Six of seven council members participated in the vote. Councilwoman Brienne Brown was not in attendance.
According to the employment agreement approved by council, Weidl will begin his contract as city manager on Monday, Nov. 7.
Contractual provisions
After the increase in annual salary scheduled for Jan. 1, the contract stipulates that future salary increases will be tied to performance reviews anticipated to take place on an annual basis.
Additionally, the contract states, “should the city manager decline the city’s health insurance because he receives coverage through another plan, he shall be eligible for additional compensation paid in lieu of insurance.”
The contract stipulates that the city manager can be terminated by the city council at any time during the agreement without cause or for just cause.
Would the city manager opt to resign, he must provide a 60-day written notice to the city clerk and the council president, according to the agreement.
The contract notes that the city will make available to the city manager a city-issued vehicle for use during the course of conducting business, and in the absence of the availability of a vehicle, the city will reimburse the manager for mileage at a rate established by the Federal Internal Revenue Service.
The city also will provide the manager with a cell phone allowance of $50 per month.
The full contract is here: http://fortatkinsononline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DOC102622-10262022192636.pdf.
Prepared statements
After the open session meeting, the city released a prepared statement, noting that after weeks of engaging in the recruitment process, which included “conducting a national search, phone interviews and video interviews, the council selected three final candidates.”
They were David Porter, James Palenick and Weidl, each of whom participated Friday in a “full day interview.”
According to the release, the day consisted of interviews with members of city staff and stakeholders, along with a tour of the community and a meet-and-greet for media and citizens.
Council members and the candidates continued the interviewing process on Saturday, and, the release noted, received information from other interview panels.
“We welcome Mr. Weidl as the new city manager for Whitewater. The council took this decision very seriously and feels that Mr. Weidl is the candidate best qualified for this role for the city of Whitewater. We trust that Mr. Weidl will bring his experience, abilities and energy to work diligently and passionately for the city of Whitewater,” Council President Lisa Dawsey Smith was quoted as saying in the release.
She continued: “Like every community, Whitewater is facing a number of challenges, and we feel that Mr. Weidl has the drive to tackle projects head-on and a desire to get results for the betterment of the entire community. His experience and knowledge in local government, especially economic development, should prove to be an asset to our city.”
Responding within the press release to the council’s decision, Weidl was quoted as saying: “Thank you to the community members, staff and elected officials that participated in the process of choosing the city’s next manager. I’ve enjoyed the previous two months serving as the interim city manager, particularly finding value touring the community and discussing the fire and EMS referendum as an entryway to learning more about the needs and opportunities of Whitewater, while meeting several hundred community members and dozens of local organizations.”
He continued: “I’m excited to bring my expertise in economic development, energy, and enthusiasm to Whitewater as we look to increase opportunities for public outreach, communication and collaboration with local partners.”
Weidl said that on Monday, Nov. 7, he plans to make himself available to members of the public, offering discussion over coffee and pastries at the Sweet Spot, 226 W. Whitewater St., between 8:30 and 10 a.m., which, he said within the release, would be his “first opportunity to reintroduce myself to the community as the permanent city manager.”
Whitewater City Manager John Weidl, file photo/Kim McDarison. An earlier story about Weidl is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/whitewater-interim-city-manager-says-he-plans-to-apply-for-permanent-position/.
Whitewater Common Council members Lisa Dawsey Smith, from left, Carol McCormick, Greg Majkrzak, Lukas Schreiber and Jim Allen assemble Wednesday in a conference room on the second floor of city hall. Councilwoman Jill Gerber, not pictured, attended the special meeting through Zoom. Council met in closed session, deliberating for 35 minutes before reconvening in open session and voted to install John Weidl as city manager. Kim McDarison Photo.
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