Tyler Water Utilities Director Greg Morgan entered Wednesday’s City Council meeting with one title and left with another – development manager.

The council approved a contract with a firm to provide an interim director to fill Morgan’s former position while he takes on new tasks, including developing long-range plans for the water department and its systems, providing a thorough review of the city’s engineering and development functions, and working on a leadership model for the departments.

He will take over negotiating a contract to bring a hotel conference center – a project that used to be under the direction of former Assistant City Manager Susan Guthrie, who left the city a week ago to spend more time with family and pursue her doctorate.

Morgan, an engineer, said he has been on the peripherals of the project by working to secure water rights to build a small pond on the convention center property. Now, he will be in the middle of the project, pushing it forward.

“I’m not going to be too far away,” he said. “I need to move out of (the water department) so people coming behind me can have their opportunity to develop and lead, but I’m really looking forward to the hotel conference center project.”

Morgan isn’t the only person in the city with new job titles and responsibilities. Five people will absorb parts of Ms. Guthrie’s workload. After eight years, Ms. Guthrie left behind a key position in the city.

She served as the city’s communications manager, but was over a host of other projects, including the Veterans’ Roundtable and Tyler Partnership for Education, and served as the Human Needs Network liaison and more.

Some of the city’s upcoming leaders who have received added responsibilities amid the restructuring have received raises and others did not.

Morgan will receive the same compensation as he did as water utilities director – a base salary of $154,393, plus a $6,000 travel allowance.

“It’s a new role and it’s a new level of responsibility, but it’s not necessarily a greater level of responsibility than I have today,” Morgan said. “It’s more of a lateral move more than a promotion.”

Interim Water Utilities Director Gordon J. Mayer would be compensated with $94 an hour. That figure is Morgan’s current hourly rate, minus benefits. Mayer will receive mileage of 52 cents per mile to travel to and from his home in Hideaway.

 

OTHER LEADERSHIP CHANGES

Most of Ms. Guthrie’s former responsibilities will be split between two key leaders – Director of Planning Heather Nick and Parks and Recreation Director Stephanie Rollings.

Ms. Nick, now titled “managing director of development and social services,” will be the liaison for the Veterans’ Roundtable, the Homelessness Roundtable, the East Texas Human Needs Network and the Tyler Area Partnership for Education. She will handle reinvestment zones, like the one downtown, in addition to leading the planning department, developmental and building services, historic preservation and the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

For the additional workload, Ms. Nick will receive a salary increase of $18,897, from $106,103 to $125,000. Her car allowance and certification pay will remain the same at $5,000 and $600, respectively.

Ms. Rollings, now titled “managing director of culture, recreation and tourism services,” will take over several downtown projects, including the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau, Innovation Pipeline, Main Street Gallery and Liberty Hall. That’s in addition to her previous duties, which included Parks and Recreation, the Tyler Public Library, Visitor Services, Convention Services, Cemeteries, the Cultural Affairs Board and Fit City.

Ms. Rolling’s salary would increase $22,294 from $102,706 to $125,000. Her vehicle allowance would increase from $4,200 to $5,000.

Julie Goodgame will take over the communications department, formerly under Ms. Guthrie. Her salary would jump $10,000 from $43,000 to $53,000.

The three promotions come with a price tag of $51,991, which is less than the $161,736 compensation package Ms. Guthrie was receiving.

ReNissa Wade, managing director for administration, will take on Ms. Guthrie’s role in coordinating the leadership roundtable but will not receive a pay increase.

Kristi Boyett, the performance excellence manager, will now report directly to the city manager instead of to Ms. Guthrie. The department is responsible for training, including City University.

These staff changes and distribution of duties are already in place.

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