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Ludlow council rejects mayor’s pick for city administrative officer
Summary
On May 28, 2026 the Ludlow City Council voted 3–1 against Resolution 2026-6, which would have appointed Christopher H. Courtney as City Administrative Officer. Councilmembers expressed differing views on timing and current departmental capacity.
The Ludlow City Council voted down Resolution 2026-6 on May 28, 2026, rejecting Mayor Sarah Thompson’s nomination of Christopher H. Courtney for City Administrative Officer.
City Attorney Michelle Eviston read the resolution before the council. Councilmember David Ziegler moved to approve the appointment and urged colleagues to "put their differences aside and vote to approve Mayor Thompson’s appointment." Steve Chapman, Meagan Guthrie and Paula Graszus voted no; Ziegler was the lone aye. Chapman told colleagues he had once supported hiring an administrator but said he now believes department heads and the mayor are managing city operations and recommended delaying the hire until the end of the year for reevaluation. Mayor Thompson said she wanted to "put the issue to rest" and requested a vote.
The vote failed on a roll call: one aye (David Ziegler) and three nays (Steve Chapman, Meagan Guthrie, Paula Graszus). The failure leaves the mayor to continue managing administrative duties with existing staff support; Mayor Thompson’s husband, Aaron, urged the council to consider an administrator for economic development but offered no formal motion. The council did not set a follow-up date on this specific appointment during the meeting.
