For the past six months, New Hope Police Chief Tim Hoyt has simultaneously served as the north metro suburb's interim city manager, overseeing both the police department and day-to-day operations at City Hall.
It's an unusual arrangement — and one that could become permanent.
The City Council last week voted to allow Hoyt to continue holding both positions until Feb. 1, as officials study how much money the city could save by having one person do both jobs. New Hope, a community of about 22,000 residents sandwiched between Plymouth and Crystal, would be the first known Minnesota city to permanently combine the high-profile positions into one.
"It's not all about the money," Mayor Kathi Hemken said in an interview. "It's about having the best person in the job."
In a sign that city leaders could be leaning toward making the arrangement permanent, the council also approved a resolution that would allow Hoyt to keep his police pension if he officially assumes both jobs. Hoyt would serve 51% of his time as police chief and 49% as city manager, allowing him to keep his police pension instead of shifting to the pension offered to city employees.
The dual position would come with a projected savings for the city of about $150,000. Hoyt would receive a cost-of-living raise and make close to $160,000 in the new role. Total compensation for New Hope's previous city manager, Kirk McDonald, was about $200,000, including pension and benefits, Hemken said.
Council Member Jonathan London said he was not in favor of the dual role.
"Of course we will save money in the short term," he said at the Nov. 28 council meeting, where he cast the lone vote against extending Hoyt's interim status. "A $150,000 cost savings is a simplistic way to look at this complex structure of governance."
