MORE: Why some Butler County cities make top officials live there, despite a state law
Nichols hasn’t been a city manager before — he is the civil service and personnel director in Hamilton — but Woodrey said he is definitely qualified for the job.
“All of his education and everything has been geared towards becoming a city manager somewhere so he basically describes himself as a sponge,” Woodrey said. “He reads as much as he can and gathers as much information as he can to make himself better.”
Nichols said he cannot comment until his contract is signed.
Nichols was up against Deanna Barbour with the Oxford Parks and Recreation in the final round of candidates.
The path to replacing John Jones, who left in August to become city manager in Hamilton County’s Springdale, has been challenging, largely because of the city’s residency requirement — a city charter rule that is illegal in the state but enforceable through employment contracts.
The council previously offered the job to Amy Young, Trenton branch manager for the MidPointe Library System in December. The day after she accepted, she learned her husband was being transferred out of state.
Patrick Ross, the Reading city manager, accepted the position in early February but then reconsidered, telling the Journal-News he couldn’t be “selfish” and relocate his family.
The council liked two other candidates — Jennifer Patterson, Monroe’s assistant to the city manager for economic development, and Milford’s City Manager Michael Doss — but they dropped out because they didn’t want to move.
About the Author