Richmond isn’t penny-pinching on leaf collection, even as revenues are falling with the leaves. The city is returning to two cycles of leaf vacuuming this fall and winter after fielding numerous complaints from residents about last year’s single round. The city saved about $300,000 by going with one cycle that was scheduled for December and January, but residents griped that leaves were getting picked up too early or too late.

Changes continue atop Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration. M. Stephen Fancher, who had been director of the Department of General Services, is no longer employed by the city, Tammy D. Hawley, the mayor’s press secretary, confirmed yesterday. She said Fancher’s exit was effective Tuesday but declined to elaborate. Bobby Vincent has been named acting director of general services. He had been chief of construction and permits for the Department of Public Works.

The investigative work of Richmond City Auditor Umesh V. Dalal isn’t as newsworthy as it used to be—at least in the minds of city officials. The City Council’s office has stopped publicizing the release of auditor’s reports that routinely point out waste and inefficiencies, as well as potential savings, at City Hall. Officials said they’re mirroring the practices of other local governments—not downplaying the reports, which continue to be posted on the city’s Web site for anyone who happens to be checking.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ plan to reorganize several city departments won’t be legally binding without approval by the City Council, City Attorney Norman B. Sales said yesterday. At the request of several council members, Sales issued an opinion on the restructuring plan announced last week by the Jones administration. He said the city charter gives Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall the power to temporarily reassign employees under his control but reserves for the council the authority to alter or reorganize city departments.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced yesterday plans to correct “major financial management failures” in the city’s Department of Social Services after the discovery of an estimated $3.8 million overbilling to the state. “We have no evidence that any of this is based in fraud or corruption, but rather poor management and record keeping which indicates a need to make significant procedural changes and improve the department’s operations,“ Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall said in a statement.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced tonight Byron C. Marshall as his choice for the city’s chief administrative officer.

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.

Byron C. Marshall, the lone finalist to be chief administrative officer of Richmond, is coming back to town. Marshall, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Austin Revitalization Authority in Texas, is scheduled to be here this weekend for additional private meetings with City Council members, Tammy D. Hawley, press secretary to Mayor Dwight C. Jones, confirmed today.

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.

Richmond could save $411,500 per year if it consolidates its grass-cutting and other grounds maintenance, according to the city auditor. City Auditor Umesh Dalal released this week a report recommending that seasonal grounds work of the Richmond Public Schools and the city’s department of public utilities be consolidated under its department of public works. That department was found to have the largest and most efficient grounds-maintenance operation.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones took control of City Hall in January, promising an era of openness in the administration’s dealings with the City Council and reporters. “I’m going to take the muzzle off,“ he said, referring to employees who feared a backlash from Mayor L. Douglas Wilder if they spoke to council members or the news media.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has ended the legal fight between the City Council and former Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. Taxpayers have already spent more than $1.1 million in legal fees.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has named Tammy D. Hawley as his press secretary. Hawley is president and founder of The Hawley Group, a Richmond-based firm specializing in project management, community relations and event planning.