Gerald Smith
Galesburg aldermen on Monday approved the hire of a new City manager as a part of a work session but the council was divided.
Gerald Smith was not present at the meeting but is expected to start work in the next 30 to 45 days.
Larry Cox, Bradley Hix, Wayne Dennis voted against the contract.
Cox says Smith’s starting salary is too “costly for the city”.
Cox says Smith would be starting near the top of the salary schedule and with a comparable benefit package to where Todd Thompson was at after 11 years.
The total salary and benefit package offered to Smith was about $171,000 compared with Thompson at $179,000 when he left.
Alderman Dwight White says he has no issue with salary.
He says Smith is highly qualified and finds appropriate in light of cost of living increases.
There are some decisions that have been put on hold until a permanent city manager could be chosen.
For example, when City Attorney Brad Nolden departed a law firm was contracted to handle the duties, but the decision on whether to hire a new in-house attorney would be left up to the new city manager.
Galesburg’s form of government makes the city manager a central figure in decision making- like the ability to hire and fire almost all non-elected officials.
Director of Public Works Wayne Carl has been interim City Manager since Todd Thompson departed to work in Rock Island in May.
