Despite his protest that “the mayor needs a secretary,” David Bowers didn’t get his way Monday night, when city council voted down his request 4-2 to save Joyce Johnson’s job, even on a part time basis. Bowers made the last minute plea when another secretary in City Clerk Stephanie Moon’s office decided to retire. Johnson, a victim of budget cuts, was offered a job in parks and recreation but may turn it down a year short of full retirement. Bowers has said on more than one occasion that he can keep a secretary plenty busy, even though the Mayor’s position is part time.
Councilman Court Rosen said before the vote that he didn’t want to “micromanage things,” and wondered if employees in other departments affected by cuts “might want someone to go to bat for them,” like Bowers was for Johnson.
Gwen Mason accused the Mayor of “having difficulty communicating,” with Moon on how to handle his workload among others in her department. It was Moon who made the decision to cut Johnson’s position. “It could easily be taken care of with a discussion,” said Mason.
Vice Mayor Sherman Lea said he was “not comfortable even talking about the issue in public,” before the 4-2 no vote with David Trinkle absent. Only Anita Price voted with Bowers to reinstate Johnson’s job.
Council may try to find $3,000 for after prom parties held every spring at William Fleming and Patrick Henry, after the $1,500 allocated for each was eliminated in the most recent budget. School activist Chris Craft told council from the podium that it was more expensive to clean up a car wreck caused by a student that may have partied elsewhere after the prom – rather than at safe, drug and alcohol free school-based after prom events.
Miller recognized: after more than 30 years of service, George “Killa” Miller is retiring from Roanoke City Schools. The longtime football and wrestling coach at William Fleming was honored with a resolution by Roanoke City Council Monday. Miller (nicknamed “Killa”) was a P.E. teacher and hall principal at Fleming, a principal at Noel C. Taylor and the school division’s director of athletics for the past three years.
Vice Mayor Sherman Lea noted that his son played football for Miller at Fleming, where the coach also became a mentor.
“He has that kind of impact on young people,” said Lea.
Miller, who played football and wrestled at Elizabeth State College, said the resolution was “an honor of high distinction.”
Council also voted to amend the plan for William Fleming’s new athletic facilities, which will now include a field house adjacent to the football field. Architect Richard Rife said the placement of the field house would not interfere with a possible expansion of the new football stadium to 6,000 seats from the planned 3,500. The larger number would allow Fleming to host regional AAA playoff games.
