Jones may soon fill several top jobs in Richmond

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is showing signs that he'll soon fill several top positions in his administration.

The city has pulled its recent advertisement for a deputy chief administrative officer for economic and community development, and an appointment is pending, according to Tammy D. Hawley, the mayor's press secretary. The position offers a salary range of $111,957 to $168,732 per year.

The city continues to advertise for a chief administrative officer, who is appointed by the mayor to make personnel decisions and to manage the city day-to-day. Hawley would not say yesterday whether Jones has a plan to submit a CAO appointment for the City Council's approval, as required by the city charter.

"I don't have any information to share with you just yet," she said.

The CAO position offers an annual salary range of $124,500 to $210,091.

Byron C. Marshall, president and CEO of the Austin Revitalization Authority in Texas, is the only CAO candidate who has been introduced to council members. The council's next meeting is Monday.

Councilman Bruce W. Tyler continued to insist yesterday that the council not schedule a confirmation vote if Marshall is appointed until the city of Austin completes a performance audit that involves Marshall's nonprofit. The results are expected in July or August.

"It's only fair we have that dialogue," Tyler said.

Director of Public Utilities Christopher L. Beschler has been serving as acting CAO since being promoted from deputy CAO for operations last fall.

This week, the city posted job advertisements for director of public utilities and deputy CAO for operations. Hawley declined to discuss specifics but described the ads as "a technicality to facilitate reorganization and restructuring."

"This would be necessary to fill positions or return [employees] to positions," she said.

The city also started advertising for a deputy CAO for finance and administration, a position previously called chief financial officer.

Jones is planning an administration led by a CAO with four deputy CAOs, overseeing economic and community development; operations; finance and administration; and human services, Hawley said. The city has no immediate plans to fill the deputy position over human services.

Former Mayor L. Douglas Wilder's administration had four deputy CAOs, although no more than three were filled at any one time. In comparison, Chesterfield County has three deputies and one assistant working under its county administrator, and Henrico County has five deputies working under its county manager.

Tyler applauded Jones' decision to have a deputy CAO over economic and community development. Those departments would retain their directors, but the deputy CAO would help set priorities and settle conflicts.

"I never saw a lot of hands-on between economic development and community development," Tyler said. "I never saw anyone trying to rein those departments in."

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