The city council Thursday night appointed Davis city manager and public service director, the dual role commonly given to Moraine’s top administrator.
“Although it is hard to find a great city manager, we feel like we have found a hidden gem,” Moraine Mayor Elaine Allison said in a statement released by the city. “Mike’s local government experience and leadership will help the city to move forward with the many important projects scheduled in our short and long-term future.”
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Davis, 49, assumes the role vacated 11 months ago by Bryan Chodkowski, whose resignation came less than a year into the job.
“Council has shown their strong support, and I’m glad we got through the challenging time” after Chodkowski’s resignation, Davis said.
The departure of Chodkowski – whose starting annual salary was $145,000 — included a $33,465.60 lump-sum payment along with deferred compensation totaling $10,000, city records show.
Chodkowski was hired to replace longtime top administrator David Hicks, who retired. Chodkowski had previously served as Riverside city manager and now is an assistant city manager in Huber Heights.
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Davis has a three-year agreement for the job that will pay an annual base salary of $130,000 through this year, Moraine records show.
The city will also provide Davis with – and maintain – a vehicle, and pay 100% of his contribution into the Ohio Public
Employees Retirement System, according to the employment agreement.
His base salary for the remaining years of the deal will be “adjusted by council and unless otherwise agreed to by both parties, city manager shall receive at least the same percentage increase approved for other non-union full-time Moraine employees,” the agreement states.
Davis credited the relationships he’s developed both within the city and its administration the past two decades as a significant factor in being able to oversee its operations on an acting basis and gain council’s confidence for the future.
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“They are the reason we’ve moved along successfully over the past year,” he said.
Davis earned a master’s degree in public administration from Wright State University. He has more than 24 years of experience in local government, all but about four as Moraine’s economic development director.
Davis was among seven finalists for the job when Hicks retired last year.
Hicks and current city officials have said Davis played a vital role in bringing in Fuyao Glass America Inc. to the former General Motors site, where it has grown to employ more than 2,000 people.
Davis has also overseen the resurgence of the Dryden Road corridor and has chaired numerous committees, including 17 years of the regional economic development summit, according to the city.
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