THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511170760
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 148 lines
WHEN RONALD W. MASSIE first took the position as Portsmouth's interim city manager, he was adamant that it was only a temporary position.
On Tuesday he said promise for the city's future changed his mind.
``I was very firm for two months,'' Massie said. ``It was an evolution, I began feeling that Portsmouth has a lot of assets and that the city has incredible potential.''
Massie, 57, said that the temporary position also convinced him that he still had a ``passion and energy for city government.''
Those traits were apparent to the City Council members who asked him to apply for the job two months after he took over as interim manager.
``I can truly say that he has been exhilarated by this experience,'' said Norfolk City Manager James Oliver, Massie's friend and former boss. ``He has been deeply moved and impressed by the way the council has worked with him.''
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Massie worked in Norfolk for 25 years and retired from that city before taking Portsmouth's helm. Massie said Wednesday that he plans to make his home here now. He has already put his Norfolk home up for sale.
In Norfolk, city officials and citizens alike said Portsmouth is ``lucky'' to get Massie.
Oliver attended Massie's swearing-in.
``I want to commend the council. Ron has one of the best minds and an experience in community building that can't be matched,'' Oliver said. ``You all have done well.''
Norfolk citizens said Massie has an energy and determination that's unique.
Don Williams, who currently sits on Norfolk's planning commission, first met Massie while working to improve Ocean View.
``When someone said we couldn't do it, he said let's see how it can be done, rather than give up,'' Williams said of Massie. ``He's very optimistic. He's a can-do guy.''
Williams also said Massie is someone who cares about citizens and what they think. When Williams first approached the Norfolk city manager about a major renovation to Ocean View, Massie got the assignment to find out what citizens wanted and to see if it could be done.
``He's someone who would listen to the people,'' Williams said. ``He would listen to the citizens and work with the citizens and try to make it happen. I think this is a super opportunity for Portsmouth.''
Jim Janata, the former president of the East Ocean View Civic League, said citizens can count on Massie's word.
``I think he was reliable,'' Janata said. ``If he said it he meant it and he would do it. And if he couldn't, he'd tell you right off. He was an easy person to respect.''
Janata added: ``His biggest forte as far as I'm concerned is he listens and entertains ideas from as many ends of the spectrum as there are. It's tremendously important that you're as good a listener as you are an enactor.''
While optimism and an ear for the community may go far, Massie also realizes there is a lot of hard work ahead in completing Portsmouth's ambitious plans and moving the city from its financially stressed status.
In his four months with the City Council he has worked with the members in setting his priorities for the coming months.
They include three main themes: public safety, economic development and making the city more efficient, effective and responsive.
Massie also wants to ``cultivate'' more citizen participation in local government.
``City government is limited in what it can do without the citizens,'' Massie said Wednesday. ``I very much like a participatory form of government.''
Massie said without citizens, Portsmouth will never solve its public safety concerns.
``The city has to do something pretty dramatic about the crime rate in the next three to five years,'' Massie said. ``It takes all parts of the system; the neighborhoods, police, judges and (Martin) Bullock,'' the commonwealth's attorney.
He believes in ``knitting together'' the community and the government in nearly every aspect of the city - from the budget priorities to the future design of the city.
Massie is excited about the goals for the city's economic development plan, Vision 2005, but wants to make sure citizens stay involved in the process.
``The 2005 stuff is as good as anything I've seen,'' Massie said. ``But how you get there is a whole different thing.
``I want to create a capacity between the goal and how we get there. The best strategic thinkers aren't always in City Hall, sometimes they're in the community.''
Massie wants to attack the city's economic development goals from several angles.
He wants to market the city to the region aggressively - he said there are many assets in Portsmouth, that much of the region doesn't know exist.
He wants to forge a partnership with Norfolk, to help attract tourists to this part of the region.
Finally, he wants to begin implementing some of the Vision 2005 plans that the city can use to build on for further development.
While working to improve the community outside of City Hall, Massie also wants to tackle the workings inside the government complex.
``I'm setting out my expectations right away,'' Massie said. ``Accountability will be the big thing. I'll track that against citizen satisfaction and council understanding.''
He said he wants managers that are also leaders.
Massie, himself, has already begun to lead Portsmouth.
``He hit the ground running,'' said Mayor Gloria O. Webb. ``He's tackled a lot of problems. He's looked at personnel policies, financial goals and has hopped into the Vision 2005 plan.''
Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons offered a similar assessment.
``He has a plan of action and we need that continuity and consistency,'' said Clemons.
``He brings that stabilizing force.'' MEMO: MASSIE LEAVES A TRAIL OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A key figure in Norfolk's downtown redevelopment, Ronald Massie was
involved in negotiations that resulted in construction of the Norfolk
Waterside Marriott Hotel and Convention Center and other important
projects.
He was instrumental in the development of public/private ventures in
Norfolk and in the redevelopment of neighborhoods.
Massie joined the City of Norfolk staff as an urban planner in 1970
and was named assistant city manager two years later. He retired last
January.
He has a B.A. degree from the University of Maryland, a master's
degree in regional planning from the University of North Carolina and
attended the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia.
Massie was born in Ironton, Ohio, in 1938. He and his wife, Eileen,
have been married for 34 years. They have two children: Wayne, 26, and
Donna, 21. Both live in Denver. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover
Ronald W. Massie
Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Portsmouth's new city manager, Ronald W. Massie, takes the oath of
office, administered by City Clerk Sheila Powell Pittman, center.
Massie's wife, Eileen, right, holds the Bible.
Staff photo by JIM WALKER
A pensive Massie meets with City Council on Tuesday, the day he was
sworn in.
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Massie wastes no time getting down to business in what is now his
permanent office. He has been acting as temporary city manager.
Photo
Massie speaks after installation.
by CNB