Red Lodge council presses for a defined city administrator job and organizational safeguards

Council members said they support hiring a city administrator but want the role clearly defined in the organizational chart so it cannot be reduced to an assistant to the mayor. Chair (S1) said, "I just don't want if we hire a city administrator, I don't want it to just be an assistant to the mayor," and urged that the role be written to provide continuity across mayoral terms.

Staff (S5) confirmed the consultant will meet the council by Zoom at 07:30 and staff will draft a job description to be codified in a resolution. Council members asked that the resolution specify reporting and removal mechanisms so that future councils cannot eliminate the position without council sign-off. The group agreed to post a job description and, if applicants do not match the council’s stated needs, to repost rather than change the posted description.