By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
The Covington City Commission voted unanimously to accept the resignation of City Manager Larry Klein at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer speaks at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. The City Commission voted unanimously to accept the resignation of City Manager Larry Klein and appoint Loren Wolff as interim city manager (photo by Mark Hansel).
Klein did not attend the meeting and will officially step down at the close of business today.
Klein’s departure has been anticipated since Mayor Joe Meyer defeated incumbent Sherry Carran in the November General Election.
“The battle lines were drawn during the election. I was change and Mayor Carran was “stay the course” and change won by a really significant margin because there were fundamental policy disagreements, not personality disagreements,” Meyer said. “This is an important step in giving the people what they voted for last November.”
Meyer added that the animosity between him and Klein has been overblown.
“(The media) has had a field day creating a feud that has been more of your imagination than mine,” Meyer said. “Mr. Klein did a fine job. The people spoke and asked for change. We respected the will of the electorate.”
That said, the criticism directed at Carran during the campaign also landed on the shoulders of the city manager and Meyer made no secret of his desire to replace Klein.
The City Commission also voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Loren VanDyke Wolff as interim city manager. She becomes the first female city manager in Covington history.
“I am honored to work with the commission, staff, residents and the business community as the interim city manager,” said Wolff. “I appreciate the confidence that the mayor and commission has shown me and I look forward to beginning to work with our staff and being responsive to the citizens.”
Wolff is a partner in The Wolff Law Firm and serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for The Center for Great Neighborhoods, a Covington growth catalyst organization. She also previously served as a special assistant to the mayor of Indianapolis.
Klein
“We are pleased to announce the hiring of Loren Wolff as interim city manager,” Meyer said. “The Commission and I look forward to bringing fresh leadership and more collaboration to our city government. We have a lot of work to do as we build a culture and a city known for saying yes to projects and ideas, and bringing more transparency to our daily operations.”
Wolff will be paid $11,000 per month while serving as interim city manager.
She was head of the Covington City Commission transition team following the November election, but Meyer said she is not a candidate to replace Klein.
“That was really important,” Meyer said. “I said on the campaign trail that we wanted to do an honest, above board, legitimate search and that’s what we are going to do.”
Meyer expects the search will be conducted without the assistance of a consulting firm, but said the City will consider all interested candidates, including those from outside of Northern Kentucky. He anticipates a three- to four-month process to identify a permanent replacement.
The City Commission met in executive session Monday to work out the details of Klein’s separation agreement and select the interim city manager.
Klein will be paid his regular salary and provide consulting services for the City of Covington through June 30. If he chooses not to serve as a consultant, or obtains full-time employment elsewhere before that date, the employment relationship with the city will be terminated.
Klein became Covington City Manager in July, 2009 after serving as the assistant city manager for a little more than a year.
Wolff (provided photo)
City commissioners Jordan Huizenga and Bill Wells praised Klein for his service to the city.
“I think he would readily say that the single most important thing that he has been able to do for this city is build the outstanding team that is sitting in the back of the room,” Huizenga said. “I’m hopeful and optimistic and confident that the team can continue the good work and good momentum and great companies coming to Covington, great developments coming to Covington. That’s where the rubber meets the road.”
Wells added that Klein supported the neighborhoods as well as the City staff. He listed a number of projects and improvements that Klein helped bring to the city, including Hotel Covington, Boone Block and 501 Main, as well as upgrades to Goebel Park and the Latonia Water Park.
“Because of Larry’s hard work and dedication, Covington is better off,” Wells said. “I could sit here and talk for hours about some of the things Larry has done. He will be missed.”
Meyer also thanked Klein for his service to the City of Covington.
As a condition of the agreement, Klein will resign any committees or board appointments that relate to the City of Covington and will vacate his office by Friday.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
