Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Administration Transition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pulaski amends city administrator contract and appoints Ricky Keith
Summary
The Pulaski Board approved an amendment to City Administrator Terry Harrison’s contract to convert him to a consultant role and voted to appoint Ricky Keith as city administrator, with Keith sworn in during the meeting.
The Pulaski Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Aug. 12 to amend City Administrator Terry Harrison’s contract so Harrison will serve as a consultant while the board appoints Ricky Keith as the city’s new city administrator.
The board approved a one-page agreement presented at the meeting that, if adopted, moves Harrison off the active city administrator roster and retains him as an on-site consultant through November. The amendment does not require changes to the municipal code, and the documents indicate Harrison would keep his existing salary and benefits during the consulting period.
Mayor and aldermen discussed the personnel transition at length before taking the vote. Andy (surname not specified in the record) said the amendment avoids creating a new municipal-code position for an associate city administrator and would allow the board to name a replacement city administrator immediately.
After the contract amendment passed, the board nominated Ricky Keith for city administrator. The board voted to appoint Keith; he was sworn in at the meeting. After taking the oath, Keith said, “I’m honored to accept this position ... the city of Pulaski has been managed well. Mr. Harrison has done a great job for the past 36 years.”
Several aldermen said they value Harrison’s long tenure and recommended keeping him available as a consultant during the transition. One alderman said he would have preferred to interview all applicants in person before appointing a replacement; the record shows four applicants were received for the job but the board proceeded with the appointment.
The board directed that a proposed employment contract for the new city administrator be discussed at the next work session and finalized at a later meeting. City staff said whether the new contract will require a budget amendment depends on its final terms.
Action taken: the board approved the contract amendment for Harrison and appointed Ricky Keith as city administrator; Keith took the oath of office at the meeting.
