The Austin City Council is on the verge of hiring a new city administrator.

Mayor Tom Stiehm cast a tiebreaking vote in a work session Monday night, as the City Council voted 4-3 to approve a preliminary contact that will pay Craig Clark a starting salary of $124,000 a year as Austin city administrator.

Council members Jeff Austin, Jeremy Carolan and Michael Jordal voted against the contract, while Steve King, Judy Enright and Roger Boughton voted in favor. Council member Janet Anderson was absent, leading to Stiehm’s tiebreaking vote.

After six months, the city will review Clark’s job performance, and a good review would increase his annual salary to $128,000.

The contract calls for Clark, currently the Worthington city administrator, to get 20 days of vacation each year and up to 40 days of sick time. It also includes a $400 a month car allowance, and up to $3,500 for temporary housing.

If the City Council voted to finalize the contract at Monday’s public meeting, Clark would start on Dec. 8.