Camden says goodbye to longtime finance director Carol Sue Greenleaf, hires Rockland’s counterpart
CAMDEN — The personnel chairs are shuffling again in the Midcoast, with Rockland Finance Director Virginia Lindsey leaving the city for the Camden finance directorship, contingent on Camden Select Board approval April 5, at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Lindsey said Monday morning that she is taking the Camden position because it represents a financial opportunity, “I couldn’t pass.”
Carol Sue Greenleaf, current Camden Financial Director, is retiring. She has been finance director in Camden for 29 years and has been committed member of the community for decades. Her last day on the job is May 6.
“She does a lot of the good things that towns do, which mostly go unnoticed,” said Jeanne Hollingsworth, who works in the Camden planning office. “She has been a source for a lot of continuity and kindness in town.”
Camden Town Manager Patricia Finnigan cited Greenleaf’s “incredible work ethic and professionalism.”
Greenleaf began at the Camden Town Office in 1987 in the assessing office. With her experience in banking and real estate, she was promoted to tax collector, improving the collections rate to 100 percent for personal property.
“We will miss Carol Sue’s knowledge, sense of humor and personal interest she has shown toward each employee and citizen she encounters.”
Lndsey will step into Greenleaf’s shoes this spring. Her official last day in Rockland is April 22.
Lindsey, who had previously been finance director for Rockport for nine years, had joined the Rockland staff in November, with a starting salary of $70,000. She declined to comment on the Camden salary that has been offered, pending comment from the Camden town manager.
Lindsey was firm in saying she supports Rockland City Manager James Chaousis.
“I took this job not thinking I’d be leaving so soon,” she said.
In her March 31 resignation letter to Chaousis, she wrote: “It has been a great pleasure to work for you and the city. You have been a great person to work for. You are enthusiastic in your approach to making Rockland a vibrant, active city here on the Midcoast of Maine, one that we can all be proud of. If the city does well, so do all the surrounding communities. I truly believe you are the type of manager that Rockland needs.”
Chaousis wrote in his weekly city manager’s report: “This is a great opportunity for Ginny but a big loss for Rockland. I’m not sure how someone can become as valuable as Ginny did, for the City of Rockland, in such a short amount of time. She performed several years’ worth of finance work in months. The advancements she made in the finance office will be felt for years. In a short amount of time, I have developed a very strong admiration for her skills and abilities. I wish we could have retained her. I made arrangements to appoint Wanda Harvey, Payroll Clerk, as the interim Finance Director. Wanda is very prepared to perform these functions for the city. I am certain that the city can maintain the strong finance improvements that Ginny implemented with Wanda’s leadership, skills and knowledge. Good luck Ginny. Thank you Wanda for your dedication to the City of Rockland.”
Lindsey is a Rockland native, graduated from Rockland High School in 1976, and attended the University of Maine. She lives in South Thomaston with her husband Wayne Lindsey Jr.
IN OTHER CAMDEN PERSONNEL NEWS
The Select Board is also due to confirm Town Manager Pat Finnigan’s appointment of William O’Donnell as interim code enforcement officer, plumbing inspector and electrical inspector until July 1.
The town is seeking to fill that seat permanently, following the resignation of Steve Wilson, who departed the town office last week.
The Select Board meets Tuesday, April 5, in the Washington Street Meeting Room. The full agenda follows:
April 5 2016 – 6:30 PM Washington Street Conference Room
Select Board meetings are broadcast live on Time Warner Channel 22
Select Board meetings are web streamed at www.townhallstreams.com/locations/camden-me
Call to Order
Communications, Presentations, and Recognitions
a) Community education project regarding clean water: Storm drain stenciling program - Alison McKellar, Conservation Commission Member
b) Fire Department Training Exercise at 24 Thomas Street – Fire Chief Chris Farley
c) Business is Blooming” Request to hold sidewalk sales on May 20–22 and use of the Public Landing on Saturday May 21 for a public dance - Flint Decker, Camden Area Business Group, and Karen Brace, Community Development Director
Citizen Comments (for items not on the agenda)
New Business
Confirmation of the Town Manager’s appointment of Finance Director
Appointment of William O’Donnell as Interim Code Enforcement Officer, Plumbing Inspector, Electrical Inspector, and Health Officer.
C. Consideration of proposed Camden Zoning Ordinance Amendments and request to set a date for a Public Hearing
1. Amend Article VIII, Section 7, Traditional Village District (C) Uses Permitted as Special Exceptions, (5) of the Camden Zoning Ordinance be amended to add sub 5 which would allow certain large existing nonconforming houses to add additional dwelling units upon receiving a “Special Exception” from the zoning Board of Appeals.
2. Amend Article XI Signs, Section 10 of the Camden Zoning Ordinance be amended to allow limited Seasonal Farm Stand signs and limited temporary Farmers’ Market signs in the right-of-way in certain locations as allowed by 23 M.R.S.A. § 1913.
3. Incorporate the 2015 amendments to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Chapter 1000 rules into the Camden Zoning Ordinance to keep Camden
in compliance with 38 MRSA §435-449 (Shoreland Zoning)
D. Consideration of proposed updated Floodplain Management Ordinance which references the new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps and request to set a date for a Public Hearing
E. Set date for Public hearing for proposed Charter Amendments:
1) To allow the Town or have an informational summary on the ballot to explain the purpose of a proposed amendment or other questions on the ballot.
2) To establish a Single Assessor;
3) To designating the County Board of Assessment Review as the body to hear tax valuation appeals
Consideration of revocable license agreement for Katherine McCreery at 78 Mechanic Street for underground utilities
Authorize the Town Manager to enter into an Agreement with P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center to serve as the Town’s Shelter for Stray and Abandoned Animals
5. Public Hearings on liquor license renewals:
a) Application of Brevetto, LLC, d/b/a 40 Paper at 40 Washington Street for a Class I Restaurant Malt, Spirituous, and Vinous Liquor License
b) Application of Camden Whitehall Corp, d/b/a Whitehall at 52 High Street Street for a Class I-A Restaurant/Hotel Malt, Spirituous, and Vinous Liquor License
Approval of Select Board Minutes of March 15, 2016
Select Board Member Reports
Town Manager Report
Adjourn
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657
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