Richmond hires finance deputy | Richmond Times-Dispatch

By: ROBERT ZULLO | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: March 27, 2012 Updated: March 27, 2012 - 12:00 AM

Richmond has hired a new deputy chief administrator to oversee the city's Finance Department.

Sharon Judkins, who previously worked for the city for 19 years, was introduced to the City Council at Monday's informal meeting.

Judkins will earn $163,000, said Tammy D. Hawley, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office. She replaces Eric M. Tucker, who resigned last fall after six months. Judkins has more than 25 years of leadership and executive management experience and "is noted for her expertise in financial planning, organizational development and performance-based management," according to a city news release.

She started work Monday.

Judkins last worked as chief administrative officer of the Santa Clara Valley Water District in San Jose, Calif. There she had an array of management responsibilities, including budget and financial planning; human resources and labor relations; information management; corporate business services, including contract administration and procurement; fleet services; and the ethics and Equal Opportunity programs, according to the news release.

Judkins earned a bachelor's degree in history/political science from Virginia Union University and a master's in human resources development with a focus on organizational development from George Washington University.

"Sharon Judkins' accomplishments and comprehension of government finance and management reforms will prove to be a tremendous resource as we continue to position ourselves to become a tier-one city," Mayor Dwight C. Jones said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the City Council tabled for two weeks a measure that would have created a director of Animal Care and Control position with a salary range of up to $143,263.

The council voted in 2010 to eliminate the former Department of General Services, part of a cost-reduction plan by the mayor's office, and allow Animal Control to be its own department after a debate over where it fit best in the city's agencies.

A study conducted by the city administration later determined Animal Control would function best as its own entity and would require a director, as other city departments. The position, which will have a salary range of $90,786 to $143,263, would allow the administration to better manage overpopulation of animals and improve public education and the "public image" of animal control, said Christopher L. Beschler, deputy chief administrative officer for public utilities.

The office is currently managed by Chuck Marchant, who holds the title of operations manager. Fred Rosen, a division chief in the city's Human Resources Department, told council members Monday that Marchant is now being paid $96,198 to run Animal Control. He will be eligible to apply for the director job once it is advertised.

The Animal Care and Control office has 23 positions and a planned budget of about $1.3 million for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The office operates a public shelter, investigates animal cruelty complaints, issues licenses, enforces rabies laws, picks up stray or vicious animals, and conducts adoptions and lost and found services.

Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell asked that the proposed ordinance be continued, saying she had fielded questions from angry residents about the city establishing a new executive position while facing a $24 million school funding gap school and other budget challenges.

Council President Kathy C. Graziano and other council members said the council had effectively already decided to create the position when it voted to make Animal Control its own department.

Councilman Bruce W. Tyler, who opposed creating a department, said Monday's discussion on the director position was two years too late.

"If we put this department in Public Utilities, Public Works or the Police Department, we wouldn't be having this discussion," Tyler said. "The reality of what we're doing is we're increasing the operating cost of this department."

Source: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/mar/27/tdmet01-council-to-consider-new-department-head-po-ar-1796493/

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