HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 05 1989 Townsend Joins City StaffBy PATRICL� DiLAI:LA
Sebastian Bureau Chief
Jo Anne Townsend, Sebastian's
first assistant city manager, spent
her first day Monday settling- into
her new job.
City Manager Robb McClary has
assigned Townsend to be the new
airport director, a department
head position. She will also oversee
personnel and special projects for
the city.
Townsend, 34, said she accepted
the Sebastian job to get a wider
range of experience in her career,
despite the lower salary. As assis-
tant city manager, Townsend's
annual salary starts at $25,500.
When she left the Pompano Beach
Tuesday, December 5, 1989, Vero Beach, Fla., Press -Journal 5A
Sebastiawfioftl River Area
• Grant s Micoo-Little Hollywood a Barefoot Bay * Sebastian. • Fe{ismere • Roseland • Vero Lake Estates
Townsend Joins City Staff
ins Work
erstion' Assistant CityManagerBe
"I think my role at this point is
going to be more assisting the con-
sultants (on the airport study) to
find out what they need and how I
can help them. I think it is more
knowing the organization and
helping someone from the outside."
Townsend has a master's degree
in public administration from
Florida Atlantic University. ,
Before her job at Pompano
Beach, Townsend was a legal sec-
retary in 1983 and in 1981-82 was
staff director of the deferred com-
pensation program of the National
Association of Counties.
From 1973-81, she held several
positions wtih the federal govern-
ment; the latest as staff assistant to
the deputy special assistant to the
president for consumer affairs.
city government she
I
Pompano Beach was
was earning $34,811.
xr
,:
ranked fourth among
cities of its size in terms of
"Being assistant city
?�
crime, she said. To im-.
manager in thatcareer
prove statistics, the City
path is what I'went to
Commission authorized
schc�l for," Townsend
1
the hiring of 59 additional
said. "By sidestepping
into personnel, while it
R
police officers over two
was an area I learned a
fiscal years.
lot in, that is not the di-
Since January, Towns-,
rection I wanted to take
end said, she had been re -
for the rest of my career. Townsend sponsible for hiring 50
"I went to school to be a general-
officers, a lengthy process that re-
ist. It was a career opportunity."
quired weeding out nine applicants
In Pompano Beach, Townsend
for every officer hired.
said, she started out in 1984 as an
administrative assistant to the city
While she has no background in
manager, but was transferred last
aviation, Townsend said she does
December tom work, on a special
--have experience in working with
project for the Police Department.
consultants.