Ohio pick mulls Kalispell job
Jane Howington is interested in becoming Kalispell's next city manager.
By midday today, it's expected that Dayton, Ohio's assistant city manager for operations since June 2007 will deliver a yes, a no or a counter to Kalispell's contract offer.
Howington was the overwhelming choice when the Kalispell City Council met in special session Monday night after contract negotiations fell through last week with Matt McKillip, former mayor of Kokomo, Ind.
The original council vote was 5-4 to offer the job to McKillip, with five favoring McKillip and four voting for Howington. All council members felt both candidates had strong qualifications.
"It was very close," council member Wayne Saverud said Monday night. "I don't think it's a second choice. It's our first choice all over again."
Interim City Manager Myrt Webb sent her an e-mail with the offer shortly after the meeting Monday night, then spoke with Howington by phone on Tuesday.
"She is interested," Webb said Tuesday afternoon. "We're dealing with a professional so we will either come to an agreement relatively soon or we won't. It won't get strung out."
Howington could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but sources in Dayton said the offer came as somewhat of a surprise. She knew an offer had been extended to another candidate and thought the opportunity was gone.
After Webb contacted her, she reportedly talked with Dayton City Manager Rashad Young on Tuesday and planned to review the contract offer Tuesday night.
She reportedly is paid $119,600 for her work in Dayton. As assistant city manager, she is director of human resources and oversees police, fire, public works, water, and recreation and youth services departments. The departments represent more than 1,800 employees and a budget of nearly $217 million, according to the city's Web site.
Howington's current salary falls within the $90,000 to $125,000 range stated in the nationwide job search for the new Kalispell city manager.
Webb would not discuss details of Howington's initial contract offer that he prepared with Mayor Pam Kennedy and council President Duane Larson after the council's discussion Monday night.
It includes the typical points, he said - salary, benefits, vacation, sick leave and severance pay among them.
But he did say there is no term of employment stated in the contract, which was the deal-killer for McKillip, who wanted a minimum five-year guarantee.
"We are not offering a term of contract, there is no term," Webb said. "It's an employment agreement. She agrees to work for us."
There are provisions, however, laying out the process if the city terminates her or if she leaves her post with the city.
Kennedy said the contract was an overall package focused on the city's needs and what it would take to entice her to take the job.
"We're trying to offer her a package that would be appealing to her and at the same time not put Kalispell" in deeper budget constraints, Kennedy said. "We're looking out for the best interests of our community and getting the best qualified candidate" without going beyond budget limitations.
Howington would be coming from a much larger sphere of responsibility as an assistant on a four-person managerial team for Dayton. The 2000 Census pegged Dayton's population at 166,000 but some estimates since then are considerably higher. Kalispell's population is estimated at 21,000 today.
The City Council initially chose the top five candidates and made its first offer to McKillip earlier this month.
The city has learned that Lewiston, Idaho, City Manager John "Jay" Krauss is no longer interested in the position. Joseph Frei, a former city administrator in Columbus, Neb., and Edwin Meece, Livingston's city manager, were the remaining candidates.
Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com