THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407220553
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 129 lines
After three years at the city's helm, City Manager Richard L. Hedrick has resigned, one week before a City Council retreat that could have decided his fate.
Hedrick took fate into his own hands by handing his resignation to Mayor S. Chris Jones after the council's regular meeting Wednesday. Other council members were told of Hedrick's decision Thursday.
The council will hold an emergency meeting at 8 p.m. today to vote on whether to accept the resignation. City Council members said they will likely accept it.
Hedrick said late Thursday that his resignation is a professional move and that he was never worried about losing his job.
``I have been grappling with how I was going to address council with the fact that I was about to put out feelers,'' he said. ``I just felt like, all things considered, this is just the best time.''
Hedrick, whose resignation is effective Nov. 30, denied feeling forced out.
``I can say in all honesty that I have had no one say anything negative to me at all,'' he said.
City officials declined to comment on whether Hedrick was forced out. But some current and former council members said Hedrick was the victim of an internal schism that centered on Hedrick's role with the council.
The squabbling had intensified since the May elections that sent three new members to the council.
Several council members confirmed Thursday that there had been informal discussions about holding a vote of confidence on Hedrick at a City Council retreat July 30 and 31.
``I think that Mr. Hedrick felt he was going to be a dividing factor on council, and very heroically resigned,'' Councilwoman Marian ``Bea'' Rogers said. ``He faced a decision that may not have been an easy one. He felt that rather than drive a wedge between he and other council members, he'd rather resign and move on.''
Hedrick has submitted resumes for two positions in Florida. Daytona Beach personnel officials confirmed Thursday that Hedrick had applied for manager's positions in Daytona Beach and the surrounding county of Volusia.
Former Councilman James F. Hope said Hedrick became concerned when his support on the council dwindled.
Hedrick supporters included Hope, who did not run for re-election; Councilman Roy F. Waller of Holland, who lost to Thomas G. Underwood; and Ronald O. Hart, who did not run.
At the heart of the debate has been what roles the city manager and the council should play.
Hope said some council members interfered with the daily business of the city staff and did not allow Hed-rick to fully do his job.
``He's no damn dumbbell,'' former Mayor Andrew B. Damiani, a frequent critic of Mayor Jones and the council, said of Hedrick. ``He knew what was going on, and he knew what happened in the last election. Council was trying to usurp his authority, and the mayor was trying to be the city manager, and that's not the mayor's role. It's sad.
``He was a good finance man and they did not let him do his job,'' Damiani added. ``And the strange thing is that Richard Hedrick is a very aggressive person. But they didn't let him be aggressive. And that was his mistake. They made it impossible for him to operate.''
Hope said Jones and Hedrick clashed.
``Chris wants someone he can dominate,'' Hope said. ``Hedrick is not one to let someone else do his job or take credit for it. I think that was a big problem for Chris.''
Jones said Thursday that ``there's no foundation whatsoever to what former Councilman Hope has said.''
Hedrick's departure comes less than a month after Underwood, a former assistant city manager, took a seat on the council.
Underwood, 64, said earlier this year that Hedrick forced him to retire in 1991 by eliminating his position.
During this past election, there was some fear that Underwood and Hedrick would bump heads. But Underwood said at the time that he held no grudge against Hedrick, who now works for Underwood.
``As a chief administrator, he has to make some tough decisions,'' Underwood said in an earlier interview. ``That's fine. I have to live with that.''
Underwood declined to comment on whether he had a role in Hedrick's departure.
``There are a thousand rumors,'' he said. ``I told you I'm not going to comment until the council meets tomorrow. In the business of city government, you're never surprised at things. You may wonder, but you're never really surprised.''
Hedrick came to Suffolk three years ago with an impressive resume and a mandate to help a city grow wisely.
The Hickory, N.C., native had started his government service in 1971 as an administrative assistant in Chesapeake. He became an assistant to the manager in Henrico County, then served as county administrator in Prince George and Chesterfield counties.
He later served seven years in the Richmond suburb of Chesterfield County, directing a staff of 2,000 and a $300 million budget.
He resigned in 1987 after a budget battle with the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors and spent three years as a private real estate and political consultant before applying for the Suffolk job.
Some wondered why he would take a pay cut to lead a city with 400 employees and plenty of problems. Suffolk had budget woes, vast areas of substandard housing, a contentious council and a desperate need for a new supply of water.
However, Hedrick said he saw a city with an interesting mix of urban and rural challenges. He said his private-sector job, despite its six-figure salary, left him unfulfilled.
``I feel like a whole person again,'' he said after accepting the $78,000-a-year Suffolk post in July 1991. Hedrick replaced John L. Rowe Jr., who resigned under pressure.
Hedrick, 46, will leave the city making $85,000 a year.
Ironically, Hedrick's resignation came as the city announced it had solved one of its most pressing problems, a source of more water to spur development.
Hedrick had said water was critical to the city, saying that without a new source Suffolk would be dry in five years. On Wednesday, the city announced it was drilling new wells that would double the current 4-million-gallon-a-day supply and provide relief until a regional water source, such as Lake Gaston, can come on line.
Former Councilman Hart said he had talked with Hedrick on Wednesday and Hedrick gave no indication he was dissatisfied with the job.
``But I think any time you're city manager, there's always somebody who's dissatisfied,'' Hart said. ``I don't think you can satisfy seven members on council.'' MEMO: Staff writers Toni Whitt and Tony Germanotta contributed to this
report. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Mayor S. Chris Jones said ``there's no foundation whatsoever'' that
a clash led to City Manager Richard L. Hedrick's resignation.
by CNB