Clifton council re-instates McDowell as city administrator

After a five-minute executive session, the Clifton City Council approved –by a 4-1 vote– to rescind David McDowell’s resignation from the city administrator position.

The motion was made by alderman Andrea Crosby and seconded by alderman Roby Urbanovsky to accept McDowell’s return during the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, April 11, at the Clifton Civic Center.

Last month, the council approved McDowell’s resignation at his personal request; his last day as city administrator was set at Friday, April 15.

This month, it was requested that the council authorize the city administrator to withdrawal his resignation and confirm McDowell will remain the City of Clifton’s city administrator.

Prior to the executive session during the public comment period, a handful of citizens, including advisory board members and city staff, spoke highly of McDowell’s work and supported his return to work at the City of Clifton.

Clifton economic development coordinator Angela Smith officially welcomed the five new city staff members and voiced her appreciation of the city’s leadership over the last few weeks.

“We’re all really thankful for the additions to your wonderful team here,” she said. “I also want to commend and thank David and Mike for their leadership and encouragement during this time of transition.“

Smith said that city hall has been busy with the upcoming election, staff training, and grant projects in addition to the staff’s daily responsibilities. She as well as new employees have received assistance from a few council members as well as advice from former city employees on city activities, including annual reviews and reporting, she said.

“The work environment has remained very positive and focused under your leadership,” she said. “Our community has been really fantastic and welcoming our new employees in showing grace as we train on the job.

We’re proud to serve Clifton together. Thank you all for your leadership.”

Police Chief Chris Blanton stated that he supported McDowell because he found Clifton’s current employees to be “the most cohesive unit” of all he has experienced in his career working in city government.

“When you look at the city employees who are here tonight – the reason most of them are here is because of that man,” he said. “I can tell you that I’m still employed here and didn’t decide to move on because of David.”

Blanton added that he appreciated McDowell taking the initiative to bring community members and city staff together to organize community events.

“I want to publicly thank you, David, for the job that you do,” he concluded.

B.C. Bennett, Clifton airport advisory board member, also spoke on behalf of McDowell, noting that he had not heard McDowell was considering returning to the city hall.

“I have never dealt with anybody better than David,” he said.” I don’t always agree with David, but every conversation we’ve had, it’s always been civil, cooperative, and receptive. I would encourage the council to give him every opportunity to continue his service with the City of Clifton because the culture of cohesiveness that he has created is brilliant.

Tim Talley, Clifton airport manager, echoed Bennett’s remarks, praising McDowell as a compassionate city administrator.

“For 40 years, I’ve dealt with quite a few city administrators, and he is one of the best I’ve ever dealt with,” he said. “When one of the staff members lost a family member, David really helped us bond, and comfort that staff member.”

Talley voiced appreciation for the city –under McDowell’s leadership– removed the concrete slab that once served as the foundation of the former Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Clifton City Park.

“It’s just one of many, many things that David and his group has taken care of,” he said.

Jamie Pitts, police department administrative assistant, recounted several positive changes for city employees that have occurred during McDowell’s time as city administrator, including an increase to their retirement plan, added four new holidays, direct deposit for payroll, and renovations to the city hall building for security purposes.

“I’ve worked here for 15 years, and we’ve never honored Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, and Veterans Day with an extra day for Thanksgiving,” she said. “We got direct deposit as of last payroll. We’ve been talking about this for over10 years, and… it’s finally got put into place. That is huge for the employees.”

Pitts added that she appreciated the Christmas lights on the police department’s office building installed due to McDowell’s initiative.

“That speaks volumes that he cares about the city and the way it looks for the holidays,” she said.

Pitts also cited the community events –such as the 4th of July fireworks in Clifton City Park, the tree lighting at Heritage Plaza, and free swim day at Olson Park pool—as more examples of McDowell’’s positive influence at city hall.

“Thank you for your time listening,” she concluded. “David McDowell has made a difference as our city administrator.”

Alderman Raymond Zuehlke cast the lone council vote against McDowell’s return, citing the resignations of several staff and employees at Clifton City Hall in recent weeks.

“That’s something that I’ve never experienced in 40 years that many people resigning at one time,” he said in open session before the final vote. “Sometimes that indicates a leadership problem, and I have to extend that leadership problem that starts with this council.”

Prior to the vote outside of the executive session, Zuehlke also stated that the comments made during the public comment in support of McDowell didn’t reflect other comments he heard in the community.

“I can’t think of a single time where I felt that withdrawing a resignation was a good idea because people give good reasons to resign and usually those reasons are the same reasons why withdrawing a resignation is not a good idea,” he said.

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Schmidt noted that he discussed the matter of rescinding resignations with the city attorney.

“He said it’s perfectly allowable to do it,” Schmidt said.