Bellbrook city council names former Huber Heights leader next city manager

BELLBROOK — Bellbrook city council members have named former Huber Heights City Manager Robert Schommer Bellbrook’s next city manager.

Bellbrook city council met Wednesday night at 7 p.m. for a special meeting to consider the move. Schommer will fill the position vacated by Melissa Dodd late last month. Dodd moved onto the city of Fairborn to take the finance director position for that city.

Schommer told News Center 7 that he was very honored, proud and excited to be named city manager.

“I’m really excited to get into those roots of public service and really become engaged in the community and continue on in that path,” Schommer said.

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Schommer left the city of Huber Heights after resigning in March and the city council there approved a $150,000 consulting agreement upon his departure as City Manager, according to records.

“The years serving as city manager has certainly come with challenges but overall, the successes of the major projects the city has seen combined with the growth in the last few years has made me very proud due to the financial restructuring that I initiated,” Schommer said in his resignation letter. “I am pleased to leave a legacy of sound financial management and growth for the city.”

A draft of Schommer’s proposed employment agreement with Bellbrook shows he would make a base salary of $120,000 and would receive a $6,000 per year for a personal vehicle.

The agreement also reads that Schommer would agree “to remain in the exclusive employ of the City of Bellbrook while employed by the City of Bellbrook.”

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“The term “employed” however, shall not be construed to include occasional teaching or consulting performed outside of his working hours for the City and at his own cost, even if outside compensation is provided for such services. Said activities are expressly allowed, provided that in no case is any activity allowed which would present a conflict of interest with the City of Bellbrook,” the agreement read.

Schommer was permitted to receive a lump sum payment of up to $150,000 from Huber Heights in March to continue “to be available for consultation regarding matters of concern or interest of the services to the City with the City’s interim City Manager, (or new City Manager if hired during the term of this Agreement), Directors, by telephone or email through September 8, 2021.” The agreement with Huber Heights also said “Schommer shall not consult on any matter that may be deemed a conflict of interest between the City and any future employer.”

Schommer said the lump sum amount included benefits that were owed to him by Huber Heights and only about $24,000 of the payment was for consulting services for the six months after his resignation.

Bellbrook city officials said “there is no conflict between the consultation agreement and Bellbrook’s employment agreement.”

“The consulting agreement is effectively a severance payout agreement and release of claims. It is likely drafted in line with the contract he had with the City,” Bellbrook’s Municipal Attorney said.

Schommer also said the agreement with Huber Heights would not create a conflict with the new position if he’s selected.

“I would never put myself in that situation,” Schommer said.

Prior to becoming City Manager in Huber Heights, Schommer served as Huber Heights Police Chief for 5 years. He was employed by Huber Heights for 24.5 years.

Schommer currently lives in Englewood and has a child in high school, so he plans to commute if he’s appointed. He said the Bellbrook job “really appealed” to him.

“It appears that they have a great staff,” Schommer said. “I look forward to the opportunity hopefully.”

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