Portland council extends city manager’s contract for 3 more years
Portland City Manager Danielle West, photographed in 2023. (Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer)
The Portland City Council and City Manager Danielle West have agreed on a three-year contract extension following several months of negotiations.
The new contract, approved unanimously by the council on Monday, will pay West a base salary of $240,000.
“I am honored and thankful for the opportunity to continue serving as city manager and to build upon the progress we have achieved together over the last several years,” she said. “My heartfelt thanks go out to the city staff for their steadfast commitment to excellence and to the Portland community for their continued support.”
West, 48, was named the permanent city manager in May 2023 after serving as interim manager since the fall of 2021. She was the first woman to serve as city manager in Portland.
As negotiations on a new contract unfolded this spring, the council approved two separate one-month extensions before settling on the three-year agreement.
Prior to Monday’s vote, Mayor Mark Dion thanked councilors for how they conducted negotiations since May, and he encouraged the council to support the new contract.
Advertisement
“We’ve made the modifications and all the parties are satisfied,” he said.
As interim, West took the helm at City Hall as it confronted several pandemic-era issues, including the ongoing homelessness crisis and an influx of asylum seekers. In recent years, she’s been credited with navigating increasingly difficult budgets as federal and state support for social service programs has waned.
West’s new base salary is subject to cost of living increases, and she is also eligible for merit pay increases of up to 3% at the will of the council over the life of the contract.
The contract also retains a $750 per month automobile allowance and provides for a two-week paid sabbatical during the current contract year.
West’s initial contract came with an annual base salary of $210,000.
No one from the public spoke during public comment. The council vote was 8-0, with Councilor Wes Pelletier absent.
“As we look toward the next three years, I remain focused on making our government work better for everyone, ensuring our processes are efficient, and fostering a community that is equitable and welcoming,” she said Monday. “I am very excited for our work ahead.”
Copy the Story Link
Tagged: portland maine
Andrew Rice is a staff writer at the Press Herald covering the city of Portland. He's been working in journalism since 2012, joining the Sun Journal in 2017, then the Press Herald in 2026. He lives in. More by Andrew Rice
