Assistant City Manager Sam Fry tendered his resignation to City Manager Dave Mackie Wednesday morning.
Fry was promoted to assistant city manager from economic development coordinator in September 2025 and will continue to work in both roles through Nov. 6. The assistant city manager is a full-time position that supports the city manager with day-to-day operations and special projects. In the city’s 2026–27 adopted budget, the position is funded with a $74,650 salary.
Fry will start a new position outside Hillsdale, he told The Collegian.
“I’ll be leaving the city to take another position with a different municipality, a new job opportunity,” Fry said. “That community hasn’t announced it yet, so I won’t out of respect for them and the hiring process.”
In his resignation letter, Fry thanked City Manager Dave Mackie.
“My time with the City of Hillsdale has been an incredibly rewarding chapter of my professional life,” Fry wrote in the letter. “I am proud to have contributed to the city’s growth and development over the past several years and grateful for the experiences, relationships, and opportunities this position has afforded me.”
Mayor Scott Sessions deserves the city’s thanks as well, Fry said in the letter.
“I also want to express my deep appreciation to Mayor Scott Sessions, who stepped forward at a critical time for our community and provided much-needed leadership and stability,” Fry said in the letter. “His commitment to Hillsdale, support for city staff, and willingness to lead with integrity during a challenging period have earned my sincere respect and gratitude.”
Sessions said Fry excelled in his roles.
“He did an excellent job for the city and he’ll be missed very badly, very much,” Sessions said. “He helped bring Marshall’s and Culver’s here, so he’s done a great job. It’s just hard to replace somebody like that.”
Fry did not attend this week’s city council meeting. When the council received Fry’s resignation letter two days later, it took them by surprise, Ward 1 Councilman Greg Stuchell said.
“I knew Sam was looking at different opportunities for himself and different city management positions,” Stuchell said. “He’s a young man, he’s smart, he’s intelligent. I would be doing the same thing if I was his age.”
Mayoral candidate and Ward 3 Councilman Bob Flynn said Fry’s resignation was abrupt.
“I had just talked to him here a couple weeks ago about some plans for next year to try to come up with some newer things to bring people to town, and it’s going be sad that he’s not going to be able to help with that,” Flynn said. “He did not give any indication that he was not going to be here.”
Fry often stepped in for Mackie at city council meetings to update the council on the city manager’s advice and recommendations, according to Ward 2 Councilman Will Morrisey. Stuchell said the city manager’s office will feel the loss of Fry.
“He’s always been in a supportive role for the city manager and really filled every void we may have had and was very articulate, very intelligent,” Stuchell said. “It’s going to be a big loss.”
Ward 2 councilman and mayoral candidate Matthew Bentley said he disagrees.
“I was surprised to read of his resignation, though I’d noticed his increasing absence from council meetings in recent months,” Bentley said in an email. “A year ago, Mr. Mackie promoted him to assistant city manager; and since that time, seemingly has delegated ever more of his workload onto Sam. Mr. Fry seemed to be a true believer in economic development, including being a booster of the Keefer and the Dawn.”
During his tenure, Fry worked on the Keefer Hotel rehabilitation and the Dawn Theater project, coordinating with the Tax Increment Finance Authority on redevelopment to bring the long-vacant theater back into use. The hotel is not ready to open yet, according to Collegian reporting.
Bentley agreed with Flynn that Fry was a capable administrative asset.
“Though I had my differences with Sam,” Bentley said, “he seemed to be an able and conscientious member of the city staff. I wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Flynn said Fry took over various responsibilities for Mackie.
“I think he’s done a very nice job in his capacity with the city,” Flynn said. “I know he’s worked very hard on the economic side of things and also helped us when City Manager Mackie lost a couple of employees at the BPU. Dave had to take their roles as well, so Sam stepped up in his role to handle some of the day-to-day activities that he could take off of Mr. Mackie’s plate.”
Many community initiatives came through Fry, Flynn said.
“He was instrumental in helping with the train coming to Hillsdale when it does,” Flynn said. “I know his office was instrumental in helping with the city’s Christmas parade, too.”
Morrisey said he could not remember voting against Fry’s recommendations. He said Fry was always well-informed.
“I regret that he’s leaving. He’s always a thoughtful, diligent kind of guy. Whenever I had any questions, he was well informed on all aspects of city government,” Morrisey said. “It seems to me that he was pretty much involved in all things that we’ve been doing since he’s come here.”
Mackie, who is leaving his city manager position in 2028 while staying on the BPU, will choose Fry’s successor.
“It’ll be up to the city manager to get the application out there, start looking to see who’s available,” Stuchell said. “It’s really kind of a bad time because we’re going to be switching council members real quick. I only have two more meetings. We’ll have half the council be replaced in a couple weeks.”
Hillsdale needs team players to preserve its future, Fry said in his letter.
“As I look to the future, I remain optimistic about what lies ahead for Hillsdale,” he wrote. “This community has tremendous potential, and I hope its elected leaders will continue to recognize the importance of demonstrating thoughtful and constructive leadership, fostering collaboration, and treating others with mutual respect. These qualities are essential to building strong organizations and successful communities.”
