Former Iowa City manager accepts Massachusetts job

IOWA CITY - Former Iowa City Manager Michael Lombardo has accepted a similar job in Massachusetts.  

 The Salem News reported Friday that

Lombardo was offered a three-year contract to become the first town manager of

Hamilton. Lombardo and town officials still must agree to a deal, the paper reported.

Another publication, the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, reported that Lombardo accepted the job pending contract negotiations.

Lombardo told a Salem News reporter that he was "very thankful to be offered the opportunity."

Lombardo was fired as  city manager of Iowa City in April after less than a year on the job. The City Council has never explained its reasons for firing him, saying it was a personnel matter.

The Salem News reported that one of the Hamilton's selectman said she "talked to a number of people in Iowa City who were shocked by his firing and lauded his ability to form community partnerships."

"Municipal government is a buzz saw," David Carey, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, told the Salem News. "You'll always have somebody you're butting heads with."

Another selectman, Bill Bowler, told the Hamilton paper: “Michael Lombardo, of the three candidates, he's got the broadest skill set. He's got all of the bases covered."

Lombardo also was a candidate for a

city manager job in Albert Lea, Minn.