The City of Greensboro has lost an unusually high number of top administrators this year.
City Manager David Parrish has resigned effective June 30. Parrish has not announced his future intentions as far as working. However, Parrish is in his early 40s so retirement would appear to be a long way off. When Parrish was promoted to city manager in 2018, the assumption by some councilmembers was that hiring a 39-year-old as city manager would bring some long term stability to the office, but almost exactly three years later he is resigning.
At the June 1 City Council meeting, Mayor Nancy Vaughan noted that Neighborhood Department Director Stan Wilson had left to accept a job in Georgia.
Vaughan praised Wilson for the good job he had done running the Neighborhood Development Department and in particular for his efforts with the affordable housing program.
Two long time department heads have also retired this year. Field Operations Director Dale Wyrick, the first and only director that department has ever had, retired April 30. Wyrick created the department from bits and pieces of other departments and, while he was director, the city added more bits and pieces from other departments for Wyrick to manage.
With no public thanks from Vaughan or the City Council, Financial Services Director Rick Lusk retired March 31. In part due to the lucrative retirements benefits that government employees receive, many city employees retire on the day they have their 30 years in and are eligible for full retirement benefits.
Lusk was the exception. He worked for the City of Greensboro for 35 years and had 45 years in the state retirement system, but he chose to retire at the end of March.
Parrish named Julio Delgado director of the Field Operations department in April but both the Financial Services Department and the Neighborhood Development Department are being managed by interim directors.
Assistant City Manager Chris Wilson was named interim city manager and the City Council announced it would do a national search for a new city manager.
What do they say about a sinking ship?
It’s called getting the H out. Police are waiting to see if the state legislature passes the Mickey Hutchins bill that would allow them to buy up to 4 years of time if they have the state’s Advanced Law Enforcement certificate (most acquire the requirements through their college degree and continuing education credits). If that passes watch for a mass exodus. Good luck filling those spots.
This would appear to me to be an illustration of the phrase “Get Woke, Go Broke”. Greensboro city government strikes me as being pretty woke so people leaving for what ever reason shouldn’t be a big surprise.
Guess what?If I had to work with a complete board of Dems ,I feel sure I would probably leave as well. I forgot Our Highness The Mayor thrown in as well. If he was sane before then this may be a good reason to be leaving.Why is the city so twisted that they vote in these giveaway council members and mayor without a single Republican in the bunch !!!!I guess the people in the city must all like high taxes because almost every year I read or hear there will be a tax increase coming!!! Well maybe it’s the people who living Greensboro that is the problem !!I remember from 2012 to 202 there was a majority Republicans on county commissioners,we did not have a tax increase for 8 years.Wise up Greensboro people get rid of these people and get some good people to run your city.At this time the court is run by Dems there is already a move to start giving money away like your city council.Help in both areas and get some good small government people in place.
The wrong people are leaving. The ones that need to leave or asked to leave are all of the loser government employees who stay past their 30 years to keep low cost insurance. They have fat salaries and for the most part are the ones that do nothing. I’ve seen it and heard it. There is a ton of wasted weight sitting in City Hall. Offer them retirement and a bonus and get some fresh new faces and brains in City Hall.
Correct. Look in the police department at those that sit on their tails for over 30 years. it increases their retirement multiplier witht the state. I believe in a mandatory retirement at 30 years when you have a state or local government retirement. Stop letting employees past their expiration date sit on their tails and let the employees under them who make half the money do all of their work.
I have met Rick Lusk professionally. He is a great loss to the city. Wonder why he did not get a going away party like the early 40s city manager?
Does fire chief count?
“With no public thanks from Vaughan or the City Council, Financial Services Director Rick Lusk retired March 31.”
You have go back a few years to understand Yvonne and Nancy’s rift with Rick Lusk. It goes back to the payments to the Skip & Earl museum in which the former City Attorney told Rick to issue a check to them, but Rick refused since he was following the rules and the law in the transaction. He finally gave up and issued the check after he was hounded by the former attorney, who was then fired by the council.
Would be nice if the Rhino would dredge up their coverage of this event in which Rick was proved to be right, but the council was mad that he was following rules and procedures.
“Top administrator” Oxymoron?