This story was updated on Feb. 2, 11:36 a.m.
After nine years in the village of Mamaroneck, Manager Richard Slingerland will resign, taking on a new role as village administrator in Tarrytown, the Review has learned.
“Mamaroneck is a great community,” Slingerland said. “I became aware of an opportunity in Tarrytown, looked into it, and I was offered the job.”
According to village Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, who has served all four of his terms as mayor working in tandem with Slingerland, the manager’s departure marks a loss for the village.
“I enjoyed the time with [Slingerland],” Rosenblum said. “While we didn’t agree on several items, whether it be something specific or in general, I think he added to the recognition of the village.”
According to a statement released by the village of Tarrytown, Slingerland was selected amongst eight finalists—down from 35 initial candidates—and will replace administrator Michael Blau, who has served Tarrytown for the last 17 years.
Blau—who also formerly served as the village of Mamaroneck’s manager prior to leaving for his current post in Tarrytown—will retire after 35 years in public administration.
Budget documents for 2015 and 2016 show that Blau’s adopted Tarrytown salary was $222,000 for that time period.
Slingerland’s resignation comes a little more than 10 days after the authorization of a contract with Novak Consulting Group, a performance assessment firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio, which would be tasked with providing a comprehensive evaluation of the village manager’s performance.
That contract has since been terminated following Slingerland’s resignation, but documents show that the consulting group planned to conduct interviews with village board members, department heads and Slingerland in order to identify “strengths, weaknesses, and perceptions of effectiveness of the village manager.”
The defunct contract with Novak would have cost the village $17,500 and its final report would have remained confidential to the public.
Slingerland said he will continue to operate under his current post as village manager until the end of March, and that he is not currently aware of any other prospective candidates to take his position.
Currently, Slingerland is making $187,300 annually with the village. A new contract with Tarrytown, which was obtained by the Review, shows that Slingerland will earn $202,000.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that Novak’s report would have been issued to the public. All Novak reports are kept confidential unless stipulated otherwise by the hiring agency.
