THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 TAG: 9701220385
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 60 lines
The city's longtime budget director, Claude A. Wright, in the midst of negotiating one of the tightest capital budgets in recent memory, retired over the weekend.
Wright was not forced out of the job and had planned to retire this year, according to City Manager John L. Pazour. Wright told Pazour of his intentions to retire in September when the new city manager was first hired, Pazour said Tuesday.
In October, Wright told the City Council that Chesapeake faced a $14 million shortfall and would require a heady list of fee and tax increases to cover the difference.
The council has until the end of February to approve the capital budget and address the shortfall.
Pazour has named an acting budget director. She is Iris Hoskie, who has been a budget analyst for Chesapeake for five years, after coming here from the Virginia Beach city government.
Wright's retirement is the first change in staff under Pazour, who began working here on Jan. 2.
``My understanding is that Claude considered retiring last year and stayed on to help (interim city manager) Clarence Cuffee with the budget and to help the new city manager get up to speed,'' Pazour said. ``I don't know which date he had planned to retire. We never really talked about anything specific. But he had reached the time.''
Pazour said he talked with Wright over the weekend. Wright was not at work Tuesday and did not return phone calls.
Wright will retire officially on Feb. 1 and will remain on leave until then, said city personnel director Carolyn W. Darden.
Wright still will be involved in certain capital budget decisions and will be available to answer questions from the City Council and manager. With the bulk of the budget preparations complete, however, Pazour said Wright saw an opportunity to go.
``Claude has spent over 30 years with the city,'' said Pazour. ``I think he has had the respect and support of City Council and the staff. It still really is a loss to the city. He really is a unique person and I'm frankly sorry to see him go.''
Wright, one of the longest-serving members of city staff, came to Chesapeake in July 1966 as assistant to the comptroller. Two years later he was promoted to deputy comptroller. Wright became assistant finance director in July 1969 and director in 1972.
Wright's retirement comes as the city is working out the kinks in one of its tightest capital budgets. That includes a detailed review of revenues, spending and reserves to help detail the scope of the shortfall.
The City Council and Pazour will deal with the shortfall once those numbers are complete. The council will begin analyzing budget numbers in about two weeks, Pazour said. ``There's no doubt in my mind that we have a lot to do,'' he said.
``I think the majority of the major work has been done and Claude was really instrumental in pulling that forward,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Claude Wright had been on the Chesapeake city staff for 30 years,
since July 1966.