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 County at roughly $189,807 and a comparable average for similarly sized Florida cities at $192,269. Council members argued about whether to set pay at the county/city-manager average, at a smaller interim premium above Davis's current pay, or to start lower and reserve additional increase if she is later appointed permanent city manager.

Christine Davis, who has served as Orange City's finance director and assistant city manager for more than two decades in city employment, told the council she was focused on continuity and added, "You're paying for a position, not a person." During the discussion she said a counteroffer of $170,000 would have been acceptable and later indicated acceptance of the council's final offer.

Council members who supported the $175,000 figure cited the immediate need for a chief executive to run operations, sign contracts and lead hurricane-season and budget preparations while the council conducts any search for a permanent manager. Members who opposed the higher number expressed concern about the size of the increase compared with Davis's current salary and about setting a benchmark that could affect future recruitment and negotiations.

Several members of the public spoke during citizen comment. Nereda H. Williamson, who identified herself as having municipal HR experience, urged the council to consider Davis's long institutional knowledge and training, saying, "Replacing her with all the knowledge and all the training that Dale Arrington has given her, it's gonna be a challenge." Gary Knight, a resident, also urged the council to accept Arrington's recommendation and noted the value of a locally trained successor.

The approved contract, as described in the staff presentation, mirrors standard city manager agreements in several respects: it grants the interim manager the duties spelled out by the city charter and code, provides city insurance and normal employee benefits, and allows the interim manager to revert to her assistant city manager role if the council hires a different permanent city manager. The proposed contract also removed a car allowance; Davis indicated she preferred to use a city pool vehicle when needed.

By council roll call, the motion carried with votes recorded: Vice Mayor Graham — yes; Councilmember Richardson — yes; Councilmember Jones — yes; Councilmember Knight — yes; Councilmember Tiansen — no; Mayor Kelly Marks — no. The motion was made from the dais (motion recorded verbally by a council member), seconded on the record, and approved by majority vote.

Arrington, who has served roughly nine and a half years as city manager and leaves at the end of August, told the council she was working with Davis and department heads for a transition. The council instructed staff to proceed with onboarding and to bring the finalized agreement for administrative completion. Davis told the council she will work to ensure continuity during the transition if the agreement is finalized.

The council did not at the meeting commit to whether it will conduct a national search for a permanent manager or consider Davis for that role; members discussed both options and asked staff to prepare for either path. The contract approved covers interim duties and benefits and does not itself create a permanent appointment.