Newburgh City Council Names Public Works Commissioner Morris Interim City Manager

The Newburgh City Council voted Monday to name Public Works Commissioner Jason Morris as interim city manager, passing over outgoing manager Todd Venning's deputy and handing the top job at City Hall to the city's engineer-in-chief instead.

Venning, the fifty-fifth city manager, did not attend the March 23 meeting, and the council opted not to appoint his deputy, Michael Neppl, as interim manager. Morris will serve in the role until lawmakers select a permanent replacement. Venning's departure takes effect March 31.

The council named Morris, the city's Public Works Commissioner, to the top job in city hall until lawmakers hire a permanent manager. Under City Charter §9.01, the Commissioner of Public Works is appointed by the City Manager to develop, manage, and implement comprehensive public improvement and maintenance plans and projects for the operation and control of all City utilities and infrastructure. Morris additionally serves as City Engineer.

When counting all city managers and acting managers appointed over the 100-year history of that form of government in Newburgh, Morris is the 56th to hold the position. The city manager structure dates to January 3, 1916, when Fred Alber became the first person to hold the post.

The city manager post has historically seen frequent turnover, with the average tenure lasting two to three years. Harry Porr holds the record for longest service at nine years and is now deputy Orange County executive. According to city records, 10 city managers were terminated, 22 resigned and one died.

The Department of Public Works, which Morris has led, is organized under the Commissioner to consist of the divisions of Engineering, Water, Sewer, Sanitation, and Streets and Bridges, with responsibility for all improvement and maintenance projects related to city streets, rights-of-way, parks, rivers, waterworks, sewers, and city-owned real property.

Morris's familiarity with city infrastructure runs deep. In late 2024, procurement correspondence addressed to him as Commissioner of Public Works and City Engineer documented his role overseeing Bid No. 7-24, the Wastewater Treatment Plant Administration Building Renovation Project. Overall, 14 bids were received for that multi-prime project. Engineering firm Arcadis of New York recommended Barone Construction Group for the general construction award, with a contract value of $1,025,000, and a separate professional engineering construction management services contract with Arcadis valued at $339,450.

The city council has not yet announced a timeline for hiring a permanent city manager.