NEWBURGH – Newburgh City Manager Todd Venning, who makes over $200,000 a year plus benefits, has placed in his proposed city budget for next year a deputy city manager’s position.

Since he became city manager, he has added a chief of staff and two assistants.

If approved by the city council, the deputy manager would replace the chief of staff slot, currently held by Michael Neppl, who has received accolades and would be the heir apparent to the new post.

But City Councilman Robert Sklarz had a concern that he expressed at a budget workshop session on Wednesday.

“The council appoints the deputy city manager position. The council appoints the city manager position and setting up a deputy city manager suggests an heir apparent to that position and it is the purview of the council to appoi

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