City Manager David Corliss to leave Lawrence for job in Colorado

In this file photo from 2008, Lawrence city manager David Corliss is shown at his City Hall office overlooking Massachusetts Streets.

A changing of the guard is coming at Lawrence City Hall.

City Manager David Corliss has agreed to become the town manager of Castle Rock, Colo. Corliss plans to leave his post as the top executive at Lawrence City Hall on June 1. Corliss’ contract with Castle Rock is expected to be approved by that town’s council on Tuesday.

Corliss said it largely was a host of personal reasons — including being next to his wife’s parents in the Denver area — that led him to the decision to leave Lawrence, where he has served in city government since 1990.

“My wife and I started thinking about life as empty-nesters and where we wanted to spend some time for the next dozen years or so before retirement,” said Corliss, 53, who has his youngest daughter graduating from Free State High this year. “This was an opportunity that presented itself.”

Mayor Mike Amyx said Lawrence is losing a valuable asset in Corliss.

“I’m very happy for the community he is going to,” Amyx said. “They are getting a very good city manager. I have always been proud to call him my city manager.”

Castle Rock is a town of about 50,000 people between Denver and Colorado Springs. It is rapidly growing, adding about 700 new homes a year, Corliss said.

The announcement comes as the City Commission is preparing to change hands. Three of the five seats are up for election on Tuesday, and the new commission will be seated on April 14. Amyx said beginning the process to find a new city manager and to appoint an interim city manager will be the first item of business for the new commission.

“It is such an important position for this community,” Amyx said.

The full commission will make a decision on who should serve as interim city manager after Corliss leaves at the end of May. Amyx said he believes Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard is a likely choice to serve in the interim role.

Amyx said a search for a new city manager likely will be a multimonth process. He noted that the last search process — in 2006 when Corliss was hired to take over for Mike Wildgen — took more than six months to complete.

Corliss said he has been pleased with projects he has worked on regarding economic development, infrastructure, downtown and others.

“And we have a great staff here,” Corliss said. “I’m very proud of the women and men who work for this city. When you start thinking about leaving, you really start recognizing how you couldn’t do this without other people. I’ve worked with so many good people and partners.”

Corliss has been city manager since September 2006, but served as interim city manager since March 2006. He previously served as an assistant city manager, the city’s director of legal services and several other positions at City Hall. A Kansas University graduate, he’s been in the city since 1980.

“This is very difficult for us emotionally,” Corliss said, including his wife, Sarah. “Lawrence has been home, and it is where we have raised our daughters. It will be difficult to leave a lot of good friends. But I leave City Hall knowing Lawrence is in good shape and has many bright days ahead of it.”

Corliss plans to submit a formal letter regarding his departure to city commissioners at their Tuesday evening meeting. You can read it here.

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