Anderson, 51, “has been contemplating and has chosen to voluntarily resign,” City Solicitor Mike McNamee wrote in a memo to council.
On Monday night, Anderson said through city training he realized “the effects of stress on mental health and on your brain — and how damaging stress can be to your brain. And this job is stressful anyway. In good times it’s stressful.
“And I realized that if I wanted to live to be a happy healthy person … that I probably needed to make a change for my own personal mental health,” he added.
Anderson said in his resignation letter dated Monday the decision to leave the job that currently pays him $171,000 a year “has not been an easy one, but after careful consideration, I believe it is in the best interest of the city and me.”
The letter stated Anderson is “grateful for the support of city council over that time as we completed some transformational projects and helped move Fairborn forward.”
Fairborn will pay Anderson for three months at his normal salary through March, according to city records.
He will receive a lump sum payment “as soon as practical” after Jan. 1, 100% of his unused vacation time and 25% of his accrued sick time, documents show.
Anderson will also consult for the city and “facilitate, cooperate and assist in transitioning” a newly appointed and/or interim replacement “on an as needed basis,” the separation agreement states.
Mayor Paul Keller thanked Anderson, noting that they have had “a tremendous working relationship.” Deputy Mayor Kevin Knepp said Anderson has “worked hard for (city redevelopment) and the growth of our city.
“Our city is better because of you,” he added. “You will be hard to replace. It will be a challenge.”
Anderson was approved as city manager in March 2017 and formerly served in the same position for Vandalia.
Before being named to his current role, Anderson was Fairborn’s economic development director.
Anderson said upon taking the city manager job that maintaining relationships with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University were two key issues for him.
“I think one of the reasons I was selected as an internal candidate is I think city council has been pleased with how we’ve been doing with our department,” he said at the time.
Anderson’s career in government began as a city planner for Kettering, a position he held for nearly 10 years before moving to Vandalia to be the assistant city manager, and later city manager.
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