The City of Hart selected its new city manager Tuesday, Oct. 28. Though they met with three impressive and qualified candidates, council members unanimously agreed that their top pick was Nichole Kleiner.
Kleiner has been interim city manager since August, following the resignation of Rob Splane, as well as serving as Hart’s Economic and Community Development (HECD) director. She was instrumental to Hart’s establishment of the forthcoming West Shore Community College’s satellite campus.
There were several factors that council members cited as setting Kleiner apart from the other two candidates. Primarily her existing investment in the city as displayed in her service on previous city boards and her investment in its economic growth, not only as HECD director, but also as a local business owner alongside her husband.
Kleiner also has the support of the community and city staff. Council Member Dean Hodges said, “I’ve heard from several people from the community and from staff that they are fully behind Nichole, and I am as well.”
A public meet-and-greet for final candidates was held as part of the selection process provided by Double Haul Solutions, with whom the city contracted to assist in the process. The event took place Oct. 23, prior to the final round of interviews the following morning.
Council members acknowledged their partiality to Kleiner due to their familiarity with her as a city employee and interim city manager; however, as Council Member Cat Burillo explained, even exercising objectivity, Kleiner remained the highest-performing candidate. “I think she demonstrates integrity, courage, compassion, resilience and perseverance. She is passionate about our community. She is a team player, but she also demonstrates the ability to take on the lead when necessary.”
When considering his choice, Council Member Andrew Mullen spoke of Kleiner's obvious excitement when faced with a tough question or challenge, “you see her eyes just light up and she’s like ‘Ooh, something else I can fix…’ and bringing that kind of enthusiasm, that’s a good quality to have.”
Mullen also discussed the efficiency in allowing Kleiner to continue the work she’s put forward in her interim role - “these last two months, it feels like there’s momentum picking up… it feels like we’re gaining momentum and we will be going places, and to switch that again just as we’re trying to get that ball rolling seems, to me, to be a bad choice.”
Of the final decision, there was little deliberation other than further agreement on Nichole’s qualifications for the role. The council voted unanimously to offer Nichole Kleiner the position of city manager and begin negotiations for her contract.
Also held at the council meeting were the second readings and adoptions of new ordinances. Zoning Ordinance Section 1246.02 allows the development of more diverse housing options, namely, three to four residential units in one building. The second ordinance would establish clear permitting and operating standards for all food trucks operating on city property, holding long-term and short-term trucks to the same standards. Both ordinances were approved unanimously by the council.
Also granted was an easement amendment with Hart Solar and the acceptance of a bid from Great Lakes Engineering Group for mandatory underwater bridge inspection. The latter was accepted despite being the only bid for the project, however, the council said they felt comfortable expediting the process as GLEG has performed the inspection in previous years, and because there was not much time remaining in the year before water temperatures would render diving unsafe.
Due to Veteran's Day falling on the typical date for the next City Council meeting, the Board elected to move the meeting to the following day, Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
