Westminster officials to offer city manager job to military vet

WESTMINSTER — At Westminster’s City Council meeting Monday evening, city officials are expected to offer the city manager position, the municipal government’s top unelected position, to Mark Freitag, a U.S. Army veteran and Janeville, Wisconsin’s current city manager. 

Freitag will succeed former Westminster city manager Donald Tripp, who resigned his position in 2021. 

At the time of his departure, the city government was engulfed in turmoil related to a “workplace review that found policy violations” within the Westminster Police Department, according to a Denver Post report from the time. Westminster Police Chief Tim Carlson retired one day before Tripp’s resignation.

“I have for some time now believed that we needed a change — a new voice to guide city staff — but I wanted to support our police department and ensure our officers have leadership in place before I stepped down,” Tripp said in a statement at the time of his resignation. “While there is never a perfect time to let go of the reins, I am thankful to have a strong executive team, and I am confident the city will have a smooth transition.”

Jody Andrews, formerly Westminster’s deputy city manager, has served as interim city manager since last year. He was also one of three finalists for the city manager job.

“Interim city manager Jody Andrews has been an excellent transitional leader for the city, and I want to thank him for his service over the past 10 months,” Westminster Mayor Nancy McNally said in a prepared statement. “Interim city manager Andrews will continue to lead the city until Mr. Freitag’s employment contract is approved by the City Council and he is sworn in as permanent city manager. Andrews will then return to his previous role as deputy city manager.”

A total of 33 applications were received, resulting in seven interview offers, according to a city memo. 

Management Partners Inc. was hired to oversee the national search process.

Should the Westminster City Council members vote to extend a contract offer to Freitag and should he accept, Freitag’s annual salary would be $260,000. He’d also receive a $650 monthly stipend for transportation. 

“We have learned a good deal about Mark through this intensive recruitment process, and we have chosen him to be the leader of our community,” McNally said in a prepared statement. “We believe he will bring the focus and leadership needed to strengthen the city’s core services and improve our community’s quality of life.” 

If he accepts the job, it will be several months before Frietag relocates from Wisconsin and starts his work in Westminster, according to an interview he gave to a Janesville radio station. The station reported that Freitag plans to provide his current employer with 60-days notice only after an offer from Westminster is put forth.