SACO — The Saco city administrator’s contract has been extended 90 days, and discussion whether to renew his contract will start in June.

City Administrator Kevin Sutherland left the position of chief of staff in Ithaca, New York, to begin his position in Saco in September 2015.

Sutherland signed a one-year employment contract with the city last year that was to expire Sept. 30 but will now expire in December. Under the terms of the contract, Sutherland earns $128,000 a year.

The City Charter requires the mayor and City Council to decide six months prior to the end of the city administrator’s contract whether they will reappoint the city administrator for another term and if so, begin negotiations at that time.

According to the City Charter, the City Council and mayor were to decide this month whether to appoint Sutherland for another year and if so, begin negotiations.

Sutherland asked the City Council on Monday night for a 90-day extension of his current contract, with no other changes made to the contract.

With this extension, any negotiations for a new contract would begin in June, which Sutherland said would be a better timing.

“With the budget season now in full swing, time away from meetings with departments to hear about their challenges and successes is not a good use of our limited time together on Monday nights,,” said Sutherland. “I would ask, if the council wants to negotiate with me, that they consider a three-month extension tonight with no other additions or benefits in the contract extension so that we can get through the budget process before time is spent on an agreement.”

The matter was discussed in an executive session, after which, the council voted 5-2 to approve the 90-day extension, with Councilors William Doyle and Marshall Archer opposed.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.