Ludlow is deadlocked over a proposed appointment of Chris Courtney, who currently serves as the associate director of local government services for the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, to the position of city administrator.
Ludlow Mayor Sarah Thompson, who was appointed as mayor last fall after the previous Mayor Chris Wright resigned, called for a motion to appoint Courtney to the position on Thursday, April 9.
City administrators are appointed by mayors but have to be confirmed by city councils. Council Member Stephen Chapman made the motion to approve the appointment, but after over a minute of resounding silence the motion died for lack of a second.
“We will readdress (this) at the next council meeting,” Thompson said on April 9.
“Sometimes these things happen,” Courtney said when contacted. “It’s rare, but they do happen.”
Courtney added that he didn’t “hold any ill will towards the mayor and her staff or the members of the council or anyone else involved.”
The city administrator position has been a repeated source of contention in Ludlow. Previous City Administrator (and erstwhile Police Chief) Scott Smith resigned in March to take a city administration job in Walton. Scott’s tenure was marked with disagreement and, at times, legal jostling over his role in the city government.
What’s more, an email Smith sent to the mayor, the council and city employees, which LINK nky obtained through a public records request, around the time of his resignation, suggests Smith took issue with how Thompson was handling her role as mayor.
“I have worked with many council members and several mayors, some good and some not so good, but I have never seen this level of disrespect or dictator-style rule, and I will not be a part of another downfall to this city,” Smith wrote in his email.
When asked about this, Thompson said she was thankful for Scott’s years of service and that “transitions can be difficult, and at times comments made during those moments may reflect frustration. My focus remains on supporting our staff (and) providing them with the tools they need to succeed and maintaining a professional, respectful workplace.”
Ludlow uses a mayor-council form of government, sometimes called a strong-mayor form. Under this type of government, mayors have broad leeway to hire and fire city workers and usually don’t need to get sign off from city legislators, except in key appointed positions like city administrators, police chiefs and fire chiefs. Thompson, who’s comparatively new to the mayor’s seat, asked other mayors in Kenton County for advice on the issue at the meeting of the Kenton County Mayors Group on Saturday.
The council, Thompson argued, “wants to review additional resumes and be involved in the interview process for my city administrator hire.” Under Ludlow ordinance, the city administrators, if confirmed, report to the mayor.
Many of the mayors at the meeting could sympathize. Some recommended looking for an emergency clause in the law or trying to reason with the council members on a one-on-one basis (legally elected officials on the same body can’t discuss public business in a group outside of a public meeting). Another recommendation was to reach out directly to the General Assembly to see how the law ought to be applied in this case.
If the council members were going to say no, Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman recommended, “let them articulate in a public meeting why they are harming the city, which is what they’re doing.”
Thompson said that she reviewed multiple candidates before making the recommendation and “didn’t know him from Adam before (she) stepped into the role.”
In a written statement, Thompson said the city received eight applications for the position. Thompson also described Courtney as highly qualified: He has a master’s degree in public administration and has worked with local governments in his role at the area development district.
“He brings strong qualifications, regional connections, economic development experience, managerial leadership and communication skills,” Thompson said. “I have been working to build a strong sense of community in Ludlow, and (Courtney) shares that value and will help continue that work for our residents and businesses.”
“You got to bring it to the public,” Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette said at the mayors meeting, “and then the public then has to apply pressure.”
Thompson confirmed with LINK nky that the city would revisit the appointment at the council meeting on Thursday.
“If my appointment is reconsidered and approved, it would be my honor to serve and work for the city,” Courtney said. “If not, I will continue to support and serve the City of Ludlow and the NKY communities where it is necessary.”