Homewood council names Cale Smith first city manager, approves $1,138.18 travel reimbursement for candidate

The Homewood City Council voted 5–0 on Feb. 23 to appoint Cale Smith as the city’s first city manager and to enter into an employment agreement with him, and it approved reimbursement of $1,138.18 for an out-of-state candidate’s travel related to the search.

The appointment was moved by Councilor Armstead and seconded by Councilor Simmons and recorded as Resolution 26-23. The travel-reimbursement authorization, moved separately and recorded as Resolution 26-22, was described in council discussion as covering flight, rental car and hotel costs; Councilor Sims said the figure had been confirmed with Kim Kinder, the city’s human-resources director.

“I am honored to be the city's first city manager,” Cale Smith said after the vote, thanking the council and city staff. He told the council he looked forward to working with employees who “make our community so special.”

Mayor Andress congratulated Smith and called the appointment a milestone for the city. Councilors said the action followed the hiring process and that the employment agreement was part of the formal appointment.

The resolutions passed unanimously; the council did not record individual roll-call votes beyond the 5–0 tallies announced at the meeting. The council also approved related procedural items earlier in the agenda, including vouchers and a budget amendment to cover a separate professional-services contract.

Next steps: the council adopted the employment agreement at the meeting; Smith will begin working with staff under the terms approved by the council. The transcript does not specify an exact start date.