Orange City Council approves interim city manager contract for Christine Davis at $175,000

The Orange City City Council voted Aug. 26 to approve an interim city manager employment agreement appointing Assistant City Manager Christine Davis and establishing an interim annual salary of $175,000. The measure passed by a 4–2 roll-call vote after a detailed public discussion about salary comparators, the scope of interim authority and succession planning.

The vote followed a framing from departing City Manager Dale Arrington, who reminded the council that Orange City operates under the council–manager form of government and that an interim city manager carries the full executive responsibility of the charter office. "I think it's very important that you understand tonight where you sit and that you operate underneath the city manager, council form of government," Arrington told the council before presenting the proposed contract.

Council members and members of the public spent more than an hour debating compensation and the differences between an "acting" and an "interim" manager. Staff materials attached to the agenda showed the average city manager salary in Volusia…