Newport approves administrator employment agreement, bids Sittlow goodbye

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Newport City Council members on Thursday approved an employment agreement for incoming city administrator Brian Anderson, paving the way for the city’s newest top staff member to take over the position Monday.

The agreement will pay Anderson a base starting salary of $88,000 per year. It provides for a severance package in the event the Newport City Council terminates Anderson without cause; no severance would be due if the incoming administrator is fired with cause.

Anderson will replace interim administrator Barry Sittlow, the former St. Paul Park city administrator who stepped in at Newport after the departures of former administrator Larry Bodahl in December and assistant administrator Bart Fischer in January.

Council members thanked Sittlow, neighboring St. Paul Park’s administrator for more than 30 years when he retired in March 2008, for helping steer the ship while the city conducted its search for a new full-time administrator.

“I know it wasn’t always fun for you, but you did a great job,” mayor Tim Geraghty told Sittlow, alluding to some tense moments on the council since Sittlow arrived in late-January. “I don’t have any plaque or award, just genuine thanks.”

Sittlow praised Newport city staff and will now return to retirement full-time. He said he enjoyed his part-time, interim position in Newport after retiring “cold turkey” last year.

“It was an honor to be called in the first place,” he told council members. “I’ve had a great five months here.”

Tags: local area news, local government, barry sittlow, brian anderson, tim geraghty, local news, news, newport