THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 10, 1997 TAG: 9701100485
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BATTINTO BATTS JR., STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 40 lines
Seeking to cut the workload of one of his deputies and streamline the city's operations, City Manager Ron Massie has combined the department of parks and recreation with the department of general services.
The merger, announced by Massie to his staff earlier this week, is effective today. Lydia Patton, who had overseen the parks and recreation department, will direct the department of recreation, parks and general services.
W.G. McGlaughon, formerly the manager of property management, will serve as the deputy director of the new department.
C.W. McCoy's duties as a deputy city manager include the oversight of the city's police, fire, parks and recreation and general services departments.
Previously, McCoy also served as the director of the department of general services. He was involved in the day-to-day operations of the department responsible for maintaining the city's buildings and vehicles.
With Patton in charge of the two departments, McCoy will have more time to help with planning and oversee projects that affect the entire city, Massie said.
``This gives my deputy more time to focus on leadership,'' Massie said. ``I think it will lead to better services regarding park maintenance and the internal services.''
The merger will also save the city money, Massie said. McCoy had been expected to vacate his duties as director of general services to devote more time to his deputy city manager position.
The city would have been forced to hire another director of general services to replace him, probably at an annual cost of more than $50,000, city officials say.
``We are eliminating that cost to the city budget,'' McCoy said. ``It is probably one of the best reorganizations that I have seen.
``I could not continue to operate and manage the largest department in the city in addition to being a deputy city manager. We have 75 to 100 projects on the table, a good portion of which are mine. I am real excited about it.''