By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

A closed session between the Buchanan City Commission and city manager Meg Mullendore Monday night ended in a mutual decision for the two to part ways.

Mullendore’s last day as city manager is July 30.

The commission issued the following statement regarding Mullendore’s inevitable exit: “During city manager Meg Mullendore’s evaluation and contract review, it was unanimously agreed that a negotiated separation agreement would be entered into between the city and Mullendore.”

The commission stated a separation agreement would be drafted by the city’s legal counsel.
“This was a tough decision for all involved,” Mayor Carla Cole said in the statement. “Due to personal reasons it was determined it was best for both parties at this time. The city wishes nothing but the best for Meg and her future endeavors and appreciates all she has done for the city and her time here.”

“My time with Buchanan has been filled with many successes for the city,” Mullendore said in the statement. “As I start a new journey with my upcoming marriage and the changes associated with that, we all agreed now was a good time to separate. I want to see Buchanan continue to grow and develop. I am also very grateful that I have an amicable relationship with the city commission. I will sincerely miss Buchanan.”

Mullendore took on the role of the city’s manager in October 2005.

“It’s had its ups and its downs as any position does, but its been a good ride,” she said from her office Tuesday afternoon.

Controversy had surrounded Mullendore on a couple of occasions. In January 2009, Mullendore requested an apology from former board chairman Richard Haigh of the Southeast Berrien County Landfill Authority for comments he’d made regarding the landfill’s revenues. A vote followed, which led to the ousting of the chairman.

“We need to have some structure,” Mullendore said at the time.

Later, however, some questioned where those revenues were going.

Mullendore also saw some attention when a salary increase was issued for the city manager in May 2008, during particularly tough economic times. The vote for the increase passed with objections after she’d just received a $5,000 raise eight months prior.

There have been several developments to take place during Mullendore’s time as city manager, and she counts securing $3.1 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment funding among the highlights of her time with the city.

“I think that’s something any manger would be proud of saving,” she said.

Asked if a separation was expected at the time of the closed session, Cole said, “”We just went into closed session to do the evaluation and the contract.”

Mullendore alluded to the idea that she was considering a new direction.

“It’s amicable and we just agreed based upon some changes in my life that now was the time to separate,” she said.

What she’ll do next is still up in the air.

“Obviously, that’s kind of unknown right now,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ll pursue another position or if I’ll go back to school,” she said. “For the city, I hope they continue to move forward and more development occurs downtown.”

As Mullendore prepares for her wedding, the commission prepares to usher in a new era of leadership to the city. Cole said the commission has already begun getting “the ball rolling” on finding a replacement and is seeking help from a neighboring community she declined to name.

“We will probably have an interim manager to fill in between the time (Mullendore) leaves and we get a new one (city manager),” Cole said. “I imagine we’ll take our time so we find someone who is as good or better than what she was.”