Acting City Manager Stephanie Cutter on Thursday got the endorsement of Savannah’s City Council for another 90 days.
At Thursday’s meeting, council approved extending her stay in the top executive position. Under the city charter, an acting city manager is approved for 90-day increments.
Cutter, though, is ready to admit she’s interested in the job permanently.
“I am open to that if the time comes,” she said. “Right now, today, yes.”
That’s a subtle change. When first appointed, she said she had no interest in the job permanently.
Council members haven’t begun to discuss a search for a new city manager, but they credit Cutter with restoring employee morale, keeping departments on task and improving community outreach after she was named.
“The city is moving in the right direction,” Mayor Edna Jackson said. “She has been able to work with council members, staff and members of the community in a very positive way.”
Cutter was appointed Oct. 4 after Jackson called for and council accepted the resignation of then-City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney.
Alderman Tom Bordeaux and other council members have noticed the improved morale with Cutter’s leadership.
“They know her, they like her, they want to work for her,” he said. “I think we needed a transition person to right the ship and restore operations. She was exactly the right person for this time.”
Bordeaux on Thursday had not realized Cutter was considering putting herself in the running for the city manager slot, but said “if she changed her mind, she should be given every good and fair consideration.”
Alderwoman Estella Edwards Shabazz, one of three council members who opposed accepting Small-Toney’s resignation, has worked closely with Cutter and praises her efforts to address neighborhood concerns.
“She’s been doing a great job,” Shabazz said. “I have a great level of confidence in her.”
In other action, council agreed to contribute $50,000 to become a founding partner of the World Trade Center Savannah. The center will help more aggressively pursue international business investment and development.