Lemmie tells England yes, but wants Dayton
Says she'll stay here if she gets a new contract
By Jim Bebbington
e-mail address:
Dayton Daily News
DAYTON | Dayton's city manager is considering staying in town rather than taking a job in Birmingham, England, if she can get a contract here.
Valerie Lemmie told a press conference Thursday she has accepted the job as Birmingham's new chief executive, but that the financial details of that offer have not been settled. She has not signed the contract, she said.
A Birmingham city press release Tuesday announced Lemmie had been selected. Press accounts said she would be paid the U.S. equivalent of $231,000 a year to head up the largest local government in the United Kingdom, with 50,000 employees and a $2.9 billion annual budget.
But the high cost of moving to England and strong local ties are pushing Lemmie to consider staying in Dayton if she can get a contract that guarantees her some years of service under the new commission.
Lemmie, 49, does not have an employment contract now. She works under an ordinance passed when she was hired in 1996 that entitles her to six months severance pay if she is fired.
"In my meetings with Birmingham officials, I informed them that I required some time to consider their offer before accepting," Lemmie said Thursday. "My decision will be based on what I feel is best for me personally and professionally at this time, with full consideration of the interests of the Dayton community."
Lemmie is paid $152,000 a year to head up the city's 3,000-employee workforce and manage its $500 million in annual spending. A bonus, a second pension plan and car allowance bumped her 2000 total pay to $169,000.
Although the salary in Birmingham is much higher, Lemmie said the cost of moving to England and keeping a home in the states would offset much of the gain. The U.K. would take 40 percent of the pay off the top in taxes, she said.
Lemmie hinted strongly that staying in Dayton was her first option.
"I am still enthusiastic about Dayton and that will remain foremost in my mind," she said.
The prospect of offering her a new contract locally is complicated by the fact that three of the five members of the city commission leave office in three weeks. Mary Wiseman, one of the three, said the new commission that takes office in January should be given sole responsibility on whether Lemmie gets a contract.
"I can only hope that our interest in keeping Valerie on board because she's done a good job in the past does not blur the fact that a lame-duck commission ought not to offer the top executive a new contract unless the new majority agrees with that," Wiseman said.
Mayor-elect Rhine McLin, who takes office in January, said Lemmie's request for a new contract comes at an awkward time because of the difficulty of transferring the city's political leadership.
"I'm trying to sort this out because it's all just very odd," she said. "The thing that is so out of whack on this for us is we're very focused on wanting to get involved with the budget and the time we're spending on this is taking time away from the budget."
McLin said she told Lemmie to keep her options open.
"I think this (offer from Birmingham) is a tremendous honor for her even to be considered for a position in another country," McLin said. "She has to do what's best for her and I wish her the best in what she chooses."
City Commissioner-elect Dick Zimmer said Wednesday he saw no reason for the city to make a counter-offer to keep Lemmie.
Joey Williams, who is beginning his commission term in January, said “I certainly have an open mind. I’ve been supportive of Valerie for a long, long time.”
A majority of the current commission already supports doing something to try to keep Lemmie. Outgoing Mayor Mike Turner and Commissioners Idotha Bootsie Neal and Edythe Lewis said they would consider a package to keep her. Commissioner Dean Lovelace could not be reached for comment.
"We need to keep a quality administrator here in the community," Neal said.
Turner said he will discuss the situation today with McLin, who defeated him in November.
"Valerie Lemmie has done an excellent job and the outcome of this year's election should not impact her future or change this community's support for her," Turner said.
In city management circles, Lemmie's possible transition to England is rare.
"In Great Britain it is absolutely unique, I've never heard of it happening," said Bill Hansell, executive director of the International City/County Management Association, the Washington, D.C.-based trade group for city managers.
Birmingham's announcement that it had hired Lemmie has generated press coverage throughout England. Birmingham has a million residents and is in the midst of a difficult transition from an economy based on heavy industry to high-technology and service.
The city government runs the schools, libraries, parks and basic city services, provides social welfare for seniors and is the largest public housing provider. Lemmie was being looked at in part because of a process underway there to operate some of its public services more like businesses.
"Her American gutsiness is going to be looked at with great interest," said Edward Welsh, a local government reporter for The Times of London.
•Contact Jim Bebbington at 225-2262 or e-mail
[From the Dayton Daily News: 12.14.2001]