Newly hired New Lebanon manager withdraws just days before scheduled start

‘It’s a big thing to take on and it’s not for the faint of heart.” interim village manager says.
The village of New Lebanon Municipal Building on South Clayton Road. AIMEE HANCOCK / STAFF

The village of New Lebanon Municipal Building on South Clayton Road. AIMEE HANCOCK / STAFF

Two months after he was appointed New Lebanon village manager, and just days before starting the new role, Peter Sexton has left the village.

Interim Village Manager Rob Anderson said Sexton had a change of heart and the search for a long-term replacement continues.

Anderson will remain in the interim position. His contract has been extended on a month-to-month basis for a period of up to three months.

Anderson did not provide a reason for Sexton’s reconsideration but said the job will be difficult for whoever takes it on. Sexton could not be reached for comment.

“I think what it all boiled down to was this is not an easy job anywhere, and it’s certainly not an easy job when you have financial issues you need to address, you have personal issues you need to address, and when you have the turmoil that’s going on in the community,” Anderson said.. “It’s a big thing to take on and it’s not for the faint of heart.”

The village received more than three dozen applications for the position, and was narrowed down to Sexton and candidate Steve Woolf.

Sexton, who is the husband of councilwoman Melissa Sexton, was appointed in a 4-2 vote, with Councilmen Gale Joy and Lyndon Perkins dissenting. Melissa Sexton recused herself from the vote.

Sexton’s appointment was opposed by council members Gale Joy and Lyndon Perkins, both of whom expressed concern about the village hiring process that included the creation of a hiring committee.

Joy said at the time he was not part of, nor aware of, any council vote taking place to create the hiring committee. Joy asserted meetings held by thecommittee were not announced with public notice ahead of time, as required by the village charter.

Anderson and village law director Mike McNamee declined in October to answer questions about who was on the committee, how members were selected, and when the committee was created. A Dayton Daily News public records request for this information is still pending with the village.

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