Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter-News Analyst
For the first time since 2000, the City of Fernandina Beach will have a Deputy City Manager. City Manager Joe Gerrity announced during the City Commission meeting on April 16, 2013, that effective May 6, Community Development Director Marshall McCrary would assume his new role as Deputy City Manager. Gerrity’s move came as a surprise to some, since he had recently created another high-level administrative manager position in the office of City Manager. This position will now not be filled. Instead, Gerrity opted to fill the position of Deputy Manager, which has remained vacant in the city’s organizational framework for 13 years.
Marshall McCrary is a familiar face to those who frequent City Hall and watch City Commission meetings. He directs activities and staff of the Community Development Department (CDD), which provides community services including: comprehensive planning, development plan review, building permit review, building inspections, code enforcement, business permitting and citizen advisory board administration. He has regularly been called upon to explain complex issues involving land development code and interpretations during City Commission meetings.
McCrary has been a resident of Fernandina Beach and Nassau County since early 2004. Prior to relocating, he lived in South Carolina for most of his life. He grew up in Charleston, but spent most of his adulthood living in the Clemson and Greenville areas. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences (1984) and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree (1991) from Clemson University. His professional life has included software development and information technology management as well as City Planning responsibilities for a variety of jurisdictions in South Carolina and Florida. He is currently the Director of the Community Development Department for the City of Fernandina Beach.
Former City Manager Fred Hays created the Deputy Manager position in 1999. The only previous incumbent was Andy Barton, who came from a public information background, and eventually succeeded Hays as City Manager in the 2000-2001 time frame. Although former City Manager Michael Czymbor was authorized to fill the deputy position by the City Commission, he declined to do so.
Gerrity has been looking to achieve savings in the city’s personnel budget by restructuring various positions and combining responsibilities in some cases. McCrary’s annual salary will rise to $86,632 in his new position from his current salary of $78,756 as CDD director. However, he will continue to exercise oversight with respect to the city’s planning activities.
Gerrity is in the process of hiring a new CDD director, who will come from the ranks of the planning department. The subsequent vacancy will not be filled at this time.
April 19, 2013 11:10 a.m.