THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 1994 TAG: 9410190448
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
Isle of Wight County Administrator Myles E. Standish will return to the city that gave him his start by becoming Suffolk's next city manager.
Suffolk Mayor S. Chris Jones and several Isle of Wight County supervisors confirmed Tuesday that Standish has accepted the job of city manager, returning to Suffolk after a seven-year absence.
An official announcement will be made at tonight's City Council meeting, almost a week after Standish was offered the job, Jones said.
``Myles' experience with economic development and the fact that he was familiar with the city were two big factors,'' Jones said. ``Besides, I think he's done just an outstanding job in Isle of Wight County.''
Standish, 44, declined to comment.
Standish replaces former City Manager Richard L. Hedrick, who resigned July 20 after serving three years.
Standish was one of six finalists out of more than 145 applicants for the Suffolk job. Council members refused to name Standish's challengers or to comment on the selection process.
Standish is a soft-spoken manager known for quietly and meticulously running government. He recently took Isle of Wight County through a $20 million school-building program that has resulted in the construction of three new schools.
He is also credited with creating the county's first comprehensive growth management plan as well as extending sewer lines.
In 1987, after his Isle of Wight appointment was clouded by charges of racial discrimination from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Standish hired Kenneth L. Chandler, a 22-year-old black man, as assistant to the county administrator.
In May, Standish recommended loosening the county's purse strings after a county tax reassessment and other revenue increases resulted in a $97,000 windfall.
In many ways, Standish faces the same challenges in Suffolk that he faced in Isle of Wight County. He comes to Suffolk as the city is experiencing a miniboom in development and after a record year of issuing building permits.
As in Isle of Wight, Standish will be forced to better manage growth in Suffolk while finding the funds to pay for city services demanded by new homeowners.
And like Isle of Wight, Suffolk is struggling with how to serve rural constituents with city services such as sewer and water lines. Suffolk is currently examining a plan to bring water and sewer service to outlying areas by using special taxing districts.
For Isle of Wight board Vice Chairman Malcolm T. Cofer, Suffolk's slate of challenges shouldn't be a problem for Standish.
``If he is indeed going to Suffolk,'' said Cofer, ``they are getting as good a finance man as I've run across.''
Supervisor Phillip A. Bradshaw credited Standish with bringing professionalism to Isle of Wight ``at a time when we needed it.''
``He plays a low-key profile a lot and doesn't get out for the high publicity,'' Bradshaw said. ``He doesn't like standing out and making a lot of public appearances.''
Standish left Suffolk as assistant city manager in 1987 to become county administrator in Isle of Wight.
Before leaving for Isle of Wight, Standish worked under former city managers G. Robert House and John L. Rowe Jr., men Standish credits with teaching him about managing government.
O.A. Spady, chairman of Isle of Wight's Board of Supervisors, credits Standish with abiding by the wishes of the county board.
``If he finds the majority of the board are thinking something is not a good idea, then I don't hear much more about it,'' said Spady. ``He pushes whatever the board asks him to do. He doesn't necessarily have his own agenda.''
``Standish has been easy to work with,'' said Supervisor Malcolm T. Cofer. ``He carries out the policy as set by the board. And although the roles of county administrator and city manager are completely different, I think in some respects his management style is better suited for the city.''
Spady said the Board of Supervisors is expected to meet Thursday, when Standish is expected to announce his resignation.
One new challenge facing Standish is what role Suffolk's city manager should play with the council.
Some council members have said Hedrick was the victim of an internal schism within the council over his role as city manager.
Some council members wanted Hedrick to be more forceful and take a harder stand on some issues. Others wanted less micro-management from Hedrick and better communication.
Council members said this squabble intensified after the May election of three new council members.
Hedrick said he left Suffolk to seek work elsewhere and denied being forced from office. He was named county administrator in Polk County, Fla., earlier this month. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
MYLES E. STANDISH
Age: 44
Current occupation: County administrator for Isle of Wight
County
Family: Married to Donna Cornwall Standish; no children
Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, Old Dominion
University, 1975
Career history:
Administrative analyst, city of Suffolk, 1975-1979
Senior analyst, city of Suffolk, 1979-1980
Director of intergovernmental affairs, city of Suffolk,
1980-1981
Assistant to the city manager, city of Suffolk, 1981
Assistant city manager/management services, city of Suffolk,
1981-1987
County administrator, Isle of Wight County, 1987-1994
City manager, city of Suffolk, October 1994
by CNB