Rutherford named city administrator – Long search comes to end
During a special session yesterday afternoon, McMinnville?s Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously agreed to hire David Rutherford as the city?s next administrator.
According to the contract, which McMinnville officials hope to sign today, Rutherford starts immediately as city administrator with a one-year contract that sets his salary at $71,739.
The decision came after an in-depth background check done by McMinnville Police Chief Charlie Sewell showed ?promising information,? and Mayor Royce Davenport?s salary negotiations were described as ?reasonable.?
Officials also agreed to:
? Furnish Rutherford a city-owned vehicle or a $300-a-month allowance.
? Give him the same health and term life insurance as other city employees.
? Provide 10 days vacation with pay for the first year.
? Provide the same sick leave as other city employees.
? Begin contributing to his TCRS retirement account.
? Pay up to $6,000 in moving expenses.
? Set objectives for his job performance.
? Review his progress after six months.
During the six-month review, elected officials can vote not to renew his contract at the end of the contract period if they feel Rutherford is not performing as expected.
Although only time will tell if the right man for the job was chosen, Mayor Davenport believes McMinnville is on the right track.
?Even talking with him during negotiations he was involved on our side,? said Davenport. ?I mentioned a vehicle. I said that personally I think we need to buy a new vehicle to use because the last one was bought 15 years ago and he said I?ll have to wait until I get there to see if we can afford it. This is a top-level position and that?s exactly the kind of thinking we need from a city administrator.?
After vowing to have Rutherford working for the city within 30 days, Alderman Bobby Kirby isn?t gloating. Instead he offered the same sentiment expressed by everyone else, ?I?m just thankful it is over.?
The wording of the contract will still have to go through legal counsel before it can be signed and officials are hoping to get this done today.