CAO finalist set for more meetings with Richmond City Council

Byron C. Marshall, the lone finalist to be chief administrative officer of Richmond, is being brought back to town for another round of meetings with the City Council.

Marshall, president and CEO of the nonprofit Austin Revitalization Authority in Texas, was expected to arrive last night for a series of private meetings this weekend, Tammy D. Hawley, press secretary to Mayor Dwight C. Jones, confirmed yesterday.

The council meets Monday. Under the city charter, the chief administrative officer is appointed by the mayor but also must be approved by the council. The CAO makes all other personnel decisions and runs the city day-to-day.

Hawley said it's "not definitive as of yet" whether Jones might appoint Marshall and ask the council to bypass its procedures and conduct a vote Monday night.

"The only thing that's safe to say is he's coming to town for some additional interactions with council," she said.

In the past, the council has voted on such appointments after discussing them in committee and providing advance notice to the public. At least one councilman, Bruce W. Tyler, is urging the council to move cautiously if Marshall is appointed.

Marshall has led the Austin Revitalization Authority since 1999. He also has held top administrative posts for the cities of Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Washington, and Ann Arbor, Mich.

He has not answered questions from reporters about his possible appointment and experience.

The city of Austin is conducting a performance audit that could determine whether it continues to work with Marshall's group. News coverage of him in other cities also raised questions about representations he has made about his degree from Syracuse University, as well as consulting work that he did in Austin while employed as chief operating officer of Atlanta.

Council President Kathy C. Graziano said she's not sure how the council would respond if Jones appoints Marshall and requests an expedited vote Monday. She said the upcoming meetings will give council members their first opportunity to ask Marshall about issues raised by the media since his visit earlier this month.

"At some point, there are going to have to be public questions asked by council in a public forum," she added.

Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .