Madeira is looking for a new city manager after Michael Norton-Smith accepted the same job in Centerville, where he previously worked before coming to Madeira.

Mayor Tom Henning broke the news at the Aug. 24 council meeting. Norton-Smith "has accepted a position as City Manager of Centerville, OH and will be leaving in October," Henning said.

The City of Centerville announced Norton-Smith's hiring on Sept. 16, describing him as a familiar face. Norton-Smith originally came to Madeira from Centerville. Madeira Board of Education minutes from Dec. 12, 2022, noted he was replacing retiring City Manager Tom Moeller, who had served 33 years.

The search for his replacement is already underway. Vice Mayor Ramzi Takieddine, reporting on the Administration and Personnel Committee at the Aug. 24 meeting, said the committee had already met on Aug. 6 and Aug. 18. He said the search would be a topic of executive session discussion in the months ahead.

Since then, the committee has met twice more on personnel matters. It convened on Monday, Sept. 14, and again on Friday, Sept. 18, at the Madeira Municipal Building, 7141 Miami Ave. Both agendas listed a single item: personnel.

Council also went into executive session at the Aug. 24 meeting, from 9:02 p.m. to 9:55 p.m., to discuss the appointment, employment, dismissal or compensation of a public employee, according to meeting minutes.

No details about the search timeline, whether a search firm has been hired, or who might serve as interim city manager have been made public. Assistant City Manager Lori Thompson was present at the Aug. 24 meeting, but no source confirms interim leadership arrangements.

Budget and Finance Committee Chair Chad Shaffer noted at the Aug. 24 meeting that a budget planning session for council could fall on the first Monday in October. The next regular council meeting date has not been posted.

Residents with questions can contact the city manager's office at 513-561-7228.