“I consider it an honor and I look forward to immersing myself and my family in this community,” said Young, who is currently in Greensboro.
Young is expected to start the new job on Oct. 16, giving the Dayton City Commission about six weeks’ notice. Members will meet in executive session at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2. Tom Biedenharn, Dayton’s director of public affairs, said the City Commission expects to make an announcement after the executive session.
Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin declined to comment on Young’s departure until after the executive sesson.
Five interim city managers have served in Dayton since 1994, including the most recent, Young, who took the job in April 2006 after the departure of former city manager James Dinneen. Most, like Young, were assistant city managers at the time.
If the City Commission follows that historical trend, they have a selection of two: Deputy City Manager Stan Earley or Shelley Dickstein, assistant city manager for strategic development.
Other city staffers called to fill that role included Tim Riordan,1994, who was director of finance; Maureen Pero,1995, a former assistant city manger; Jim Francis, 1996, former assistant/clerk of commission; and, John Thomas, 2002, also a former assistant city manager.
The Greensboro, N.C., City Council voted 8-1 to hire Young as their city manager at a special meeting Tuesday morning. He will earn a base salary of $179,500. That’s about $33,700 more than the $145,766 Dayton pays him.
Young also will earn an additional supplemental executive compensation allowance of $850 per month in Greensboro.
Recognizing that Young will likely have to maintain two households for a while (one in Greensboro and one in Dayton), the City Council also gave their new city manager a $1,000 housing allowance for up to six months and moving costs of $5,000.
Gary Leitzell, candidate for Dayton mayor, said he believes the administrator selected to replace Young permanently would likely not want to accept the job before the November election when city leadership could change.
Leitzell is running against two-time incumbent, Mayor Rhine McLin.
If elected, Leitzell said he would hope to be included in the process of selecting a new manager.
“The city commission will do what it has to do,” he said.
There also is a three-way race for two city commission seats. Incumbents Joey Williams and Nan Whaley are being challenged by local businessman and blogger, David Esrati.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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