UPDATE: According to Missouri’s Columbia Daily Tribune, Paula Hertwig Hopkins—reportedly one of three finalists for Charlottesville’s city manager position and Columbia’s assistant city manager—is not in negotiations with city officials for the Charlottesville gig.
The Daily Tribune quotes Hopkins, who told the paper she is "not negotiating with anyone" and wished Charlottesville well in its search. Published reports state that city officials are in conversation with a candidate about salary and benefits.
A call to the East Providence, Rhode Island office of City Manager Richard Brown thickens the plot. An office employee told C-VILLE Brown is out of the office this week. Asked about his absence, the employee responded that Brown is on "vacation."
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Has a new City Manager been chosen? NBC29 says so. Citing two inside sources, the network reports that Acting City Manager Maurice Jones has been picked to succeed Gary O’Connell, who is now the executive director of the Albemarle County Service Authority.
City Council clerk Paige Barfield tells C-VILLE that no announcement has been made and that council is still in talks with the candidate to agree on a salary and benefits package. When advertised, the position carried with it a potential salary of between $165,000 and $190,000. O’Connell, who served 15 years as city manager, earned $175,000 at the time of his retirement.
The next City Council meeting agenda, December 6, includes the announcement of a new manager, but council could decide to officially release the name of the winning candidate before the meeting. In an e-mail, Mayor Dave Norris told C-VILLE that council hoped to make an announcement this week. The city manager serves as Chief Administrative Officer in Charlottesville.
According to NBC29, finalists for the position include Jones; Richard Brown, city manager of East Providence, Rhode Island; and Paula Hertwig Hopkins, assistant city manager of Columbia, Missouri.
Stay tuned for updates.
