The city of Dayton has officially announced that City Manager Warren Price has resigned. At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Nan Whaley would only say that Price was stepping down for personal reasons, but that his resignation on Monday was unexpected.
"Our job is to accept that decision and move forward and move the organization forward, which is what we’re committed to doing,” she told reporters.
Price was hired in January for the city’s top job. He replaced former manager Tim Riordan, who resigned after leading the city for five years.
Price became city manager in January and will receive a severance package as part of his resignation, even though his contract does not call for the payment. Dayton City Commissioners are expected to discuss the details of that package during its meeting Wednesday.
Price is the shortest-serving city manager in recent history. But Price told the Dayton Daily News he and the city are leaving on good terms.
Recently, Price upset members of the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police when he publicly apologized Sept. 4 on behalf the city and Dayton Police Department following a traffic stop that gained national attention when video from the encounter went viral. Whaley reiterated at the conference that the incident had nothing to do with Price’s departure.
Price came to Dayton with 12 years of local government management experience. Before becoming the city manager, he worked for the city of Canton from 2009 to 2013.
Assistant City Manager Shelley Dickstein will step in as interim city manager and likely hold that post through 2015. Stanley Earley will continue his role as deputy city manager and chief financial officer.
This story was updated on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7:40 a.m.
