A new city manager in the works?
Could Guilford County's loss be Greensboro's gain?
Some city council members would like it to be.
Three council members -- Mike Barber, Mary Rakestraw and Trudy Wade -- have voted to dump City Manager Mitchell Johnson on several occasions in the last year. For months, some city council members have been floating the idea of hiring former Assistant City Manager and current Guilford County Assistant Manager Ben Brown to replace the embattled Johnson.
Some council members hoped that the shake-up at the county would mean it is prime time for Brown to move back to Greensboro.
Some folks were counting votes to replace Johnson with Brown last week. No word yet on whether Brown would consider such a move. Meanwhile the vote tally, thus far, has not swung in Brown's favor.
"There are not five votes to find a new city manager," Barber said Monday.
But there may be some kind of compromise for folks who have been disappointed with Johnson's performance. Watch out for a possible seat change that would move Johnson off the dais with the elected officials and onto the council chamber floors with the other city staff members and the public.
Comments (7)
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As of now, it appears that Brown is still with the county, though Board of Commissioners Chairman Melvin "Skip" Alston told me earlier today that Brown resigned on Friday.
When calling down to the Old County Courthouse, though, they said that Brown was still there, and several of my other contacts in the county said he was still around.
The county's HR manager, Sharisse Fuller, said that he was still on board there, as far as she knew.
Posted on December 15, 2008 5:41 PM
I hear county attorney, Sharron Kurtz, is next on the chopping block. Can you confirm Ger?
Posted on December 15, 2008 9:27 PM
Steve - No, I can't. Not at this point.
But at least a handful of county employees are designing their contingency plans, for when/if they are let go.
Commissioners are more apt to say that they expect to move positions from one department to another, or lose through attrition and retirement.
Next time I talk to the commissioners, I'll ask what they have in mind next. Ought to be today.
Posted on December 16, 2008 9:03 AM
Hey Gerald, any idea who the other directors who are "designing their contingency plans"?
Posted on December 16, 2008 9:52 PM
Hey Gerald, any idea as to the idenitity of the other directors who are "designing their contingency plans"?
Posted on December 16, 2008 9:54 PM
BS-
Can't say just yet. But we're working to find out what's going on and where.
Rest assured, we should have more facts in hand soon.
Posted on December 17, 2008 1:46 PM
Ben Brown as City Manager ?????????
Yeah, right . He would be worse than Mitch.
Posted on December 23, 2008 10:21 AM