City Council approves new city manager By Julie Snyder ST. CLAIR SHORES — A former city administrator from Wisconsin is slated to take the reins of St. Clair Shores this month. Ben Hughes, the Racine, Wis., city administrator from Oct. 1, 2007, through Feb. 16, 2009, received a unanimous vote from the St. Clair Shores City Council during a special meeting held March 8. Hughes, who retired from his position in Racine after the city’s mayor was arrested for trying to arrange a tryst with what he thought was a teenager, is expected to receive a conditional offer for the job this week. St. Clair Shores Assistant City Manager Mike Smith confirmed after the meeting that salary negotiations are private, though he did say that upon his resignation more than a year ago, Hughes was making $115,000 in Racine. He was the second individual to hold the position that was established in 2003. Hughes, 39, will be replacing retiring city manager Kenneth Podolski, 60, whose contract expires June 30. Upon his hiring in 2005, Podolski, St. Clair Shores’ retired fire chief, was given an annual salary of $99,500. Currently, he makes $108,726 before benefits. Smith, also St. Clair Shores’ human resources director, said the national search produced 50 candidates. The final four were interviewed by council on March 6. Others interviewed were Ann Capela, city manager of Inkster; Grant Kleinhenz, city manager of Centralia, Ill.; and James Payne, former city manager of Rio Rancho, N.M. Of the initial 50 candidates, Smith said 10 or more hailed from Michigan. Hughes, too, has ties to the state, with family members still residing in the Dearborn area. St. Clair Shores Mayor Robert Hison said it was Hughes’ extensive background and his enthusiasm that made him stand out above the rest of the final candidates. City Councilman David Rubello agreed, adding that Hughes’ energy will be a vital tool for the city of a little more than 63,000. “Hopefully, he will bring that all back to St. Clair Shores,” Rubello said. Councilwoman Beverly McFadyen, who made the initial motion to hire Hughes, said that in addition to his experience, she is pleased with his local family ties. “He said he wants to make Michigan his home for the next 25 years,” she said. Smith said it had been 20 years since the city held public interviews, and the reception that took place that evening came to be following the city’s look at other cities’ hiring process. “I kept seeing it as a recurring theme (in other cities),” he said. “I thought it would be a great way to see how the candidates interact with the public, because (a large percentage of a city manager’s responsibility) is working with the public.” Council members Ronald Frederick and Peter Rubino said the meet-and-greet open house that was held at the St. Clair Shores Country Club helped them both make a final decision. Longtime St. Clair Shores resident Jack Doerr attended the open house. He said he too was impressed with Hughes. “He was the one I picked as well,” said Doerr, adding that council and city administrators will need to support Hughes as he acclimates to the area during today’s tough economic times. “He’s going to need a lot of help,” he said. From 2005 until 2007, Hughes worked as the village administrator for Wrightstown, Wis. He was the deputy commissioner of the department of development and planning in Albany, N.Y., from January 2004 until November 2004. From 1998 until 2004, he was the confidential assistant to the mayor of Albany. He also worked as a budget analyst for Albany from 1996 until 1998. Hughes holds a master’s degree in public administration from the State University of New York and a bachelor’s degree in political science/public administration from Miami University in Ohio. You can reach Staff Writer Julie Snyder at jsnyder@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1039. 
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