Lancaster Accepts City Manager’s Resignation

The Lancaster City Council voted 4 to 0 Monday to accept the immediate resignation of City Manager Harold Schilling and to pay him $18,000 under a termination agreement.

Schilling, 52, held the $100,000-a-year job for less than eight months. He announced July 4 that he intended to resign, citing differences with two of Lancaster’s five council members. Before arriving in Lancaster, the Cal State Northridge graduate had 16 years of experience as a city manager, most recently in Reno.

Council members and Schilling, who was hired Dec. 6, agreed to the $18,000 payment during a closed-door meeting, but refused to explain how the amount was arrived at. Schilling also declined to make any other comment.

Council members plan to discuss their search for a new city manager Aug. 5.