News Room

News Release

	Contact:
November 2, 2007	Mark S. Cox, APR Director of Public Communications 382-6241 (WK)
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For immediate release	Heath E. Covey Public Information Coordinator 382-6401 (WK)

NEW DEPUTY CITY MANAGER NAMED

CHESAPEAKE- Chesapeake City Manager William E. Harrell announced today that Dr. Betty Jean Meyer will assume the position of Deputy City Manager – Administration effective November 16, 2007. Dr. Meyer is currently the City’s Budget Director, a post she has held since May of 2002.

“Dr. Meyer brings an outstanding mix of administrative, financial, planning and people skills to this position,” said City Manager Harrell. “Her experience with almost every facet of the City operation through the budget process uniquely qualifies her for this leadership role.”

Harrell went on to say, “Among Dr. Meyer’s major tasks will be to continue the re-engineering of the City’s budget process. Much more emphasis will be placed on getting City Council and citizen input early in the process, with the recent community “Listen and Learn” sessions being an example of that effort. This will bring about a City budget that is more in touch and responsive to the needs of the community.”
       
Dr. Meyer came to Chesapeake in August of 1999 as a Budget Analyst II, which became the position of Senior Budget Analyst during the 2001 pay study reclassification. In 2001, Dr. Meyer was appointed Acting Budget Director for the City.

Prior to coming to Chesapeake, Dr. Meyer spent 14 years as a Budget Analyst with the City of Virginia Beach. Her background also includes serving as the Church School Superintendent and in other leadership roles with First Lutheran Church of Norfolk.

“The opportunity to serve with the dynamic leadership team now in place in the City of Chesapeake is one I simply couldn’t pass up,” said Dr. Meyer. “I look forward to the chance to build upon the organization’s strong foundations while seeking new and better ways to involve citizens in the management of their City government.”

Dr. Meyer holds 3 degrees from Old Dominion University, including a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources Management. Her Ph.D. is in Urban Services Management, with a concentration in Environmental Management and an emphasis in Program Evaluation.

Dr. Meyer was chosen following a nationwide search that saw more than 75 candidates apply for the position. She will receive an annual salary of $125,000 in her new position.

City Manager Harrell has named Senior Budget Analyst Judy Fox as Interim Budget Director for the City, also effective November 16. The search for a permanent Budget Director will begin immediately.