THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, August 5, 1994                 TAG: 9408040230
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   46 lines

NEW CURATOR NAMED FOR ARTS CENTER WILLIAM A. ``BILL'' BROWN, A 24-YEAR CITY EMPLOYEE WHO HAD LOST HIS JOB, HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE POST.

William A. ``Bill'' Brown, who lost his job as assistant Portsmouth librarian during city layoffs last month, has been named curator of the Community Arts Center.

Brown, a 24-year city employee, returned to work Monday in the museums job, a position restored to the city budget as of July 1.

Brown was one of three applicants chosen for final interviews by the city Personnel Department, Museums Director Betty Burnell said. Brown's annual salary will be $35,172, about $12,000 less than he previously earned.

``But I'm delighted to stay in Portsmouth - even with a salary cut,'' Brown said Wednesday. ``Portsmouth is my life and I am pleased to be able to continue to work in an environment central to the city.''

Leisure Services Director Lydia P. Patton said Brown's selection for the job will ``bring a new dimension to the 1846 Courthouse.''

``He is a walking historian of the city and will bring a new cultural and historical perspective to the the museum,'' Patton said. ``We need more volunteers at the museums and Mr. Brown was the founder of the Friends of the Library. People support what he does and he will be a breath of fresh air to the museums.''

Brown has a bachelor's degree in history from Randolph-Macon College, a master's degree in history from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in library science from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The arts program of the museums has been headed by Shelley Brooks, senior curatorial assistant who also applied for the restored position.

Personnel Director Charlotte Fletcher said Wednesday that Brown is one of nine city employees who lost their jobs in the layoffs to be offered new jobs.

``We've made job offers to nine and seven of the 35 individuals are retiring,'' Fletcher said. ``We're still working with the others.''

KEYWORDS: LAYOFF PORTSMOUTH CITY EMPLOYEES DISPLACED WORKERS by CNB