THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608080370
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 61 lines
The city has hired a new assistant city manager but lost its acting director of development, who resigned because she believed she was not being seriously considered for the top job.
Iris B. Jessie, now assistant city manager in Columbus, Ga., has been hired to fill the position left vacant when Assistant City Manager George C. Crawley retired early this year. Jessie will start work Sept. 3.
Judy Begland, who has filled in as development director since Robert B. Smithwick left the position in April, told City Manager James B. Oliver Jr. in an Aug. 1 letter that she was resigning because the city was conducting a nationwide search for a new development director.
Begland believed such a search indicated the city would not hire her for the position, according to Oliver, who stated the letter's contents to a reporter. Begland will leave Aug. 22, Oliver said.
Oliver said the city was considering Begland for the permanent position.
``I'm sure she would have been interviewed,'' Oliver said. ``She had an opportunity, in my opinion, to show she was the right person.''
Begland could not be reached for comment.
Begland's departure leaves the city without an acting director of development. Oliver said the city was continuing the nationwide search and he expected to fill the position within two months.
Oliver will appoint a replacement to Begland when she resigns, said Deputy City Manager Darlene L. Burcham.
The position of Director of Development has been open since Smithwick moved from the position in April. At that time, Smithwick became special assistant to the city manager on development issues. On Aug. 1, Smithwick retired completely from the city government.
In the position of assistant city manager, Jessie may assume the duties held by Crawley, who was in charge of basic city services including fire, police, libraries and social services.
But Burcham said she and the three assistant city managers - Jessie, Shurl R. Montgomery and Sterling B. Cheatham - may reshuffle which departments they oversee. Jessie was selected from more than 230 applicants, Burcham said.
Jessie has worked in government at the federal, state and local level for 20 years, city officials said. She is particularly strong in community outreach and building consensus on issues. Like Crawley, Jessie is an African-American.
In Columbus, Jessie was a founding member of the Coalition of Children & Youth, an umbrella organization of children and youth agencies set up to improve services and make them more efficient. Jessie also helped sell a sales tax referendum to the public, which resulted in the passage of a one-percent sales tax for major capital improvements.
Before becoming assistant city manager in Columbus, Jesssie served as director of the Job Training Partnership Program in Columbus and also has worked as a city planner and with the U.S. Census Bureau. Jessie holds a master's degree in public affairs, and a bachelor's degree in political science. ILLUSTRATION: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
Photo
Judy Begland has resigned as acting development director, apparently
because of the search for a permanent director.
KEYWORDS: APPOINTMENT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER by CNB