WATERLOO, N.Y. — Kyle Lovell, recently ousted as Seneca County manager, has taken on the role of city manager for Oneida in Madison County. The Oneida Common Council selected him from five finalists for the position, and contract negotiations are currently underway to finalize his start date.
On August 20, the council appointed Rick Rossi as acting city manager until Lovell officially steps in.
In his resume, Lovell highlighted several accomplishments during his brief tenure in Seneca County. He fostered relationships with the Cayuga Indian Nation for the first time in 40 years, managed a $128 million budget, and led economic development initiatives related to the former Willard Psychiatric Center and the Seneca Army Depot. He directed 500 full-time and 50 part-time employees and served as interim finance director while overseeing mental health initiatives.
The Seneca County Board of Supervisors has not yet begun a formal search for Lovell’s replacement. Currently, Board Chair Mike Enslow is handling the county manager duties.
Lovell stepped into the county manager role in August 2023, succeeding Mitchell Rowe. However, county officials placed him on paid administrative leave in August 2024 due to unspecified “unforeseen circumstances,” and he received $195,000 in severance upon his departure.
An unresolved issue from his time in office involves payment for a mural project commissioned by artist Timothy Elliott. Elliott addressed the board in a letter that appeared on the agenda for the postponed October 8 meeting, which was rescheduled due to a large crowd. He expressed frustration over not receiving payment for the mural, which he began 13 months ago after Lovell’s approval.
“In all this time… we have not got paid one dime,” Elliott wrote. He attributed delays to complications involving County Attorney Arthur James, stating that the contractual requirements hindered the printing company, Excelsus, from moving forward.
Elliott requested compensation totaling $7,000 for his work and $4,000 for his photographer, emphasizing the necessity of payment to continue the project.
“Can you find it in your hearts to pay us that amount and then we can proceed forward to try and make this mural happen?” he asked.
Elliott remains committed to completing a high-quality mural that captures the history of Seneca County. He urged officials to expedite payment while they await more favorable contract terms.
In response to inquiries from the Finger Lakes Times, Enslow noted that the mural project had expanded beyond its initial scope, requiring board approval that has yet to be obtained. He stated that the committee recommended compensating the artist for his efforts to prevent undue hardship on innocent parties.