The Northport Village Council will enter into contract negotiations with Jerred Ottenwess to serve as the next village manager. Council trustees deliberated and voted 4-1 for Ottenwess over the other manager finalist, Douglas Dorando, at its regular meeting on Thursday.
Ottenwess has over 13 years of experience working in local government and in city manager roles, but currently works as a mortgage home officer for Direct Home Mortgages. Before shifting career paths, he served as the city manager in Keego Harbor for a year, and as the city manager for Traverse City from July 2013 to March 2015. He was also the city manager for several years up north in Ishpeming and in Trenton, Florida.
Trustee Hugh Cook first made the motion to go into contract negotiations with Ottenwess on Thursday, with trustee Laura Cavendish supporting. Cook, as well as several other council members, said he felt like they had “two very strong candidates,” but after talking with staff and considering how both interviews went, he thought Ottenwess was the better option. Cavendish agreed, explaining how they had “outstanding candidates” from the get-go.
