The city of New Port Richey has selected its new city manager after more than a year of searching.
The decision was made Monday morning after the city council voted unanimously to hire 51-year-old Debbie Manns. Manns is currently the assistant city manager in Clayton, Ohio.
The city had been trying to fill the position ever since former City Manager John Schneiger resigned in fall 2012. Lackluster candidates led to a higher salary offer and an expansion of the search beyond Florida.
In the end, the council decided Manns would be the perfect fit. It's good timing, as newly-elected Mayor Rob Marlowe took office Tuesday.
"Both Mr. Marlowe, our newly elected city mayor and Ms. Mann, city manager, are pro-business and I think that's going to be a key factor in our economic development and across the board," council member Judy DeBella Thomas said. "Just very excited about both of them coming on board."
Mann's yearly salary will be $115,000. That's up from Schneiger's salary of just under $110,000 a year.