She’ll retain clerk duties

Prescott will be getting a new City Administrator.

Current Administrator Jayne Brand intends to step into the role of city clerk for a couple years, she said at Monday night’s Prescott City Council meeting.

The city council voted to immediately begin the search for Brand’s replacement in hopes of having someone on board by June.

Personnel Committee Chair and Alderperson Maureen Otwell said, “Jayne talked to the mayor and the Personnel Committee about eventually retiring from the city. We thought it would be a good idea and Jayne thought it would be a good idea if we move ahead hiring a city administrator now and that person and Jayne could overlap. She would return to her clerk position, and we would pull together those duties. She would take that position, and she would be around two to three years to provide deep background for the new administrator.”

The new administrator would be paid in the $90,000-$100,000 range, and Brand would step back to a clerk’s salary.

“I’m setting up a process for how we’ll sort through the resumes that come in and what the hiring process will look like,” said Otwell.

Alderperson Bailey Ruona called the succession process “super smart.”

“I won’t step down from the position until we actually have a city administrator hired. I would be someone that would have the historical knowledge of what the city does and projects that are in process,” said Brand, referring to her new role.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Alderperson Thomas Oss.

Administrative Assistant Terri Schmidt is also retiring as of June 1.

“With her retirement, I approached the mayor and Personnel Committee and asked for some changes,” said Brand. She noted that this has been a difficult year.

“2020 was the roughest year I have had in my almost 23 years in government,” she said. “I am very appreciative to the mayor and council to allow me to make these changes.”

Photo by John McLoone