MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown City Council members will take the first steps at finding a new city manager following Tuesday’s meeting.
Mayor Marti Shamberger has called for an executive session following the resignation of City Manager Jeff Mikorski.
She and other council members learned last week Mikorski is taking a similar position in Verona, Wisconsin just 3 years after being named Morgantown’s city manager.
“Initially I was very surprised,” Shamberger told WAJR. “But, I do have to say at the same time, I learned from hiring other city managers and going through that process that typically a city manager is in a community for 3 to 5 years.”
Mikorski has been with the city for 16 years serving as the assistant city manager and then manager. He told the Verona Press “political turmoil” was part of his decision to start looking elsewhere for a job.
Shamberger said ongoing litigation adds to the political turmoil Mikorski mentioned.
“I can understand those comments. And, I think it goes back to the filing of this lawsuit last October. And, I sincerely believe this is a cloud that’s going to follow our city for a while. When you still have that monkey on your back, you might say, it does make things uncomfortable.”
A three judge panel denied a request for the removal of Shamberger and three other council members accused of violating city charter and malfeasance in office.
Testifying in the February 2016 hearing, Mikorski said an interference with administration is “an order from a council member to an employee for their direct action.” The complainant’s attorney asked Mikorski if the four council members sent such emails. He replied, “There are emails that are direct communications to employee. Yes.”
Mikorski will begin his new position August 29.
In September, The WV State Supreme Court of Appeals could take up an appeal of the panel hearing decision.
Meanwhile, a new city manager could be coming into the city as those proceedings play out.
“I think anyone coming into this position I would hope would be a visionary, be somebody who is a great communicator, has checked out the lay of the land and would know how to address those issues and begin a fresh start,” Shamberger said.
Shamberger said the next city manager should be someone who has experience with university and public relations and is a member of the International City/Council Management Association.
Mikorski was Morgantown’s assistant manager for most of his career locally.
“I think Jeff has kept the safety of our city, the fiscal health of our city, he certainly helped lead us,” noted Shamberger. “We’ve had the largest budget we’ve ever had. We’re paving more roads than the city has ever had paved. We certainly addressed the issue of couch burning which resulted in a 14-year low in fires.”
Mikorski’s final day with the City of Morgantown is Aug. 19.