Alexandria City Manager James Hartmann is looking for a new job in Seminole County, Florida.
Hartmann told the Washington Post he announced his resignation from his Alexandria post to pursue other job opportunities, including a county manager position in Seminole County.
Mayor Bill Euille said Hartmann told the City Council of his intentions at a Jan. 25 closed-door meeting, to the complete surprise of the council.
“When we hired him six years ago it was our desire that this would be his last stop,” Euille said. “And he was hoping that would be the case for him and his family, but things change over time.”
Hartmann served as Alexandria’s city manager since Jan. 10, 2005. Prior to working for the city, he was the county administrator for Spartanburg County, S.C.
A new job in Florida would be a bit of a homecoming for Hartmann, who spent 13 years working in Orange County, Fla. And Hartmann’s wife is from Orlando, Euille said.
The council unanimously requested that Hartmann stay on until the new budget is passed. Hartmann will release his proposed budget on Feb. 8, and adoption of the budget by the council is scheduled for May 2.
“Obviously it’s a major part of what he does as a manager and what we do as a council, and we felt the need to continue that process in a collaborative manner as we’ve done the past six years. So he was very receptive to that arrangement,” Euille said.
Hartmann’s announcement, and subsequent decision to keep working through May, gives the council some time to begin planning a national search for a new city manager, Euille said. An announcement by City Council on the search is expected in a few weeks.
