Byrnes Mill is without a city administrator after almost-brand-new City Administrator Mary Holden resigned on Aug. 15.
City attorney Allison Sweeney said she is filling in as acting city administrator and working at City Hall one day a week.
Holden started with the city in May but was working remotely until her in-person start date of Aug. 4. Sweeney said Holden did not report to work on Aug. 4 due to a personal issue and reported to work on Aug 15, but resigned that day.
According to her resignation letter, Holden’s last day was going to be Sept. 23, but Sweeney said the city accepted her resignation immediately.
“After spending time getting acquainted with the position, I’ve come to realize that this position is not a good fit for either of us and know both will be better served with someone else in the position of city administrator,” Holden said in her resignation letter to Byrnes Mill Mayor Rob Kiczenski.
Holden was hired in March to replace City Administrator Debbie LaVenture, who retired on Aug. 11.
Holden was not reached for comment before the Leader’s deadline.
LaVenture’s annual salary was $64,500 and Holden’s salary was $90,000.
“It makes things a little more complicated, certainly,” Kiczenski said. “We’ve gone through adversity before, so we will make it through this, too. We are confident in our staff and our board to be able to get through.”
Holden worked for Arnold beginning in 2003 and resigned in 2018. During her tenure, she was awarded a $20,000 settlement after filing a discrimination complaint against the city. She left Arnold to work at Marco Island, Fla., until taking the job at Byrnes Mill.
The Byrnes Mill Board of Alderpersons voted 5-0 Aug. 17 to hire LaVenture as a consultant. Ward 3 Alderperson Roben Harris was not at the meeting.
Sweeney said LaVenture is being paid $75 an hour and will work at City Hall one day a week.
“We were always planning to have Debbie assist at some level with the city for a few months to help transition,” Kiczenski said.
Sweeney will be paid $140 an hour for her one-day-a-week city administrator duties, the same rate she is paid as the city’s attorney.
Sweeney said Police Chief Frank T. Selvaggio and city clerk Amy Kennedy are at City Hall five days a week.
“That is why I’m filling in this role, just to make sure that there is no break in any sort of city services, that the citizens can get the same level of service if they come to City Hall, or call City Hall,” Sweeney said. “The mayor has taken an active role in making sure things are getting done.”
She said the city plans to post the city administrator job as soon as possible.
Fall Festival canceled
Byrnes Mill officials have canceled the city’s annual Fall Festival for a third year due to concern about the spread of COVID-19 as well as staffing issues.
The event was set for Oct. 1 at the Byrnes Mill City Park, off Lower Byrnes Mill Road, Kiczenski said.
Kiczenski said Holden’s resignation made it difficult to organize the festival.
The Board of Alderpersons voted 5-0 on Aug. 17 to cancel the event.
The fall festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns.
Kiczenski said he encourages residents to attend National Night Out, which is Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Spring Hill Presbyterian Church, 6247 Upper Byrnes Mill Road, in Byrnes Mill.
Selvaggio said the event will start at 5 p.m. and have hot dogs, chips and soft drinks for a small fee.
“It’s kind of a meet-and-greet with your local law enforcement officers,” he said.
“We also plan on having firefighters, paramedics and 911 dispatchers there.”