THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050167
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
The hiring of another Norfolk city government veteran as planning director for Portsmouth makes good sense.
If there are experienced and recognized applicants for city jobs already in the region, the city should take advantage of their knowledge of the area. It doesn't make sense to have to wait a year for a new person to become familiar with Hampton Roads. In addition, it's cheaper to advertise and interview people close to home and it certainly cuts down on moving costs to hire someone from a nearby city.
More importantly, however, is the fact that City Manager Ron Massie is himself a longtime Norfolk employee who knows the people he is getting into place on his management team. Both he and the new planning director, James Gildea, worked for two decades for Norfolk. They know each other.
Massie also recently hired Ken Wheeler, a former City of Norfolk public relations director, as director of public affairs for the City of Portsmouth. Again, the two men know each other.
Certainly it's important for Massie to feel he has some people on his management team who are longtime colleagues. In addition, all the former Norfolk employees have achieved in their areas of expertise and have been recognized for it by the City of Norfolk.
As one observer said, why not let Norfolk spend the money to train good employees for us?
Portsmouth is a city with many projects under way. It needs the kind of experienced help that can be supplied by Massie and his friends from Norfolk.
Their background and long involvement in the region also should get them respect not only from other city employees but also from elected officials who must approve and fund their actions.
And, perhaps the long-term fallout from hiring a group of Norfolk folks will be more cooperation between the two cities. Massie and his colleagues know what represents a plus for Portsmouth in the regional scheme of things.
They know what Portsmouth needs to do and where it needs to go to make its place in Hampton Roads. They deserve an opportunity to prove they can get the job done right. by CNB