GENEVA — City Council is hosting a special meeting tonight during which they will discuss the city manager transition following Amie Hendrix’s announcement last week she is leaving the job July 8 for a new position in Maine.

Hendrix is expected to be appointed town manager of Kittery, Maine, on Wednesday. Kittery is a coastal community of about 11,500 people. Her five-year-contract will initially pay her $195,000 a year, compared to her $146,750 salary in Geneva. Kittery’s cost of living is generally higher than Geneva.

Hendrix said Sunday that she had no additional comment beyond the press release she issued Thursday night after informing Mayor Jim Cecere and City Council of her decision during an executive session.

Hendrix, a Seneca County native, has been Geneva’s city manager for about four years after previously serving as deputy county administrator in Tompkins County.

Officials praised Hendrix’s tenure as city manager.

“I have truly enjoyed working with Amie and happy for her new position,” Geneva Police Chief Ron Eveland said. “When staff learn of a sudden resignation, there is always a mix of sadness, anxiety, and concern of impending workplace instability, but this is a positive departure for her with professional advancement and opportunity. Under Amie’s leadership, our management team has been cohesive and will continue to work together and support our community and each other during a transition.”

Eveland noted Hendrix appointed him chief in June 2024.

“She has been supportive of me as I have developed into my role and has been a strong supporter of public safety in Geneva,” he said. “I wish Amie nothing but the best as she travels to Maine.”

Fire Chief Del Parrotta also praised Hendrix.

“I have had the opportunity to work closely with Amie, and throughout her tenure she has been a strong and consistent supporter of the fire department and our public safety mission,” he said. “She understood the demands of emergency services and was always receptive to the needs of our personnel and the community we serve. Her support and partnership have been appreciated, and her contributions to the city will have a lasting impact.”

Parrotta emphasized that as Geneva transitions to new leadership, “our focus remains on continuing to provide the highest level of service to the residents and visitors of Geneva. We sincerely wish Amie the very best in her future endeavors.”

Former Mayor Steve Valentino, who worked closely with Hendrix for more than three years, said he was “slightly surprised” to hear of her resignation. He also praised her work.

“She has weathered some serious times in the city very effectively,” he said. “Amie not only kept the city moving in a positive direction, she worked through various personnel challenges with a level of professionalism that brought new talent into the city. She has kept public safety at the forefront and provided several options to Council on economic development and housing as priorities. Her ability to establish new internal procedures and policies that were long overdue will carry on to the next administration.”

Valentino added that Hendrix “developed several organizational changes to increase efficiencies and provide better value” to taxpayers.

“She has left the city better than she found it,” Valentino said. “I expect the City Council will be busy looking for a replacement and hopefully there will be time for the transition,” he said. “Amie’s vision of succession will help in the transition by the addition of the assistant city manager role. I wish nothing but the best to Amie in her new role and to Council in their efforts to select a new city leader to keep us moving forward to reach our full potential.”

Geneva Business Improvement Director Sydney Schumacher said she has enjoyed working with Hendrix.

“She has been a wonderful support to the GBID and, personally, to me since the day I started in this role,” she said. “Geneva will miss her strong leadership, competence, and cool head under pressure. I have genuinely been impressed by Amie every day that we have worked together, and every day that I have seen her working in action for the best interests of Geneva. Our city, the GBID, and myself owe her nothing but gratitude as she moves on to this next exciting chapter. She will be sorely missed.”

Also tonight, City Council is expected to touch on the 2027 budget direction.