City Manager Jeff Moon announced at Monday’s City Council meeting he hired Robert Porche Jr. as the city’s finance director.
Porche, who now serves as the finance director for the city of Smyrna, will begin his tenure with Woodstock on April 23. He previously served as finance director with the city of Holly Springs before going to Smyrna.
Moon said Porche’s salary will be $99,096.37.
The city manager said the city received between 10 and 12 applications for the position, but Porche was the best choice.
“He had direct experience as a CFO (chief financial officer) for a local municipality in Georgia,” he said. “He is extremely knowledgeable and was the clear-cut choice from the interviews.”
Porche replaces former Chief Financial Officer Henry Bucci, who resigned from the position earlier this year, but who was consulting with the city until they could hire someone.
Moon said the city had some “procedural issues” within the Finance Department that was discovered in last year’s audit.
This year’s audit, he added, discovered the same issues, including reconciliation of bank statements and reconciliation of the general ledger.
Bucci was hired by the city in January 2008, and the city utilized existing finance staff to help fill in the gaps.
Moon said Porche will start in the middle of the city’s budget planning for fiscal year 2013, which will be his first priority.
Mayor Donnie Henriques said Porche not only has a lot of experience, but he’s also “got a lot of people skills.”
In other business, after an executive session to discuss personnel, litigation and real estate, the Council also voted to condemn 347 square feet of property owned by Tilla Granger on Elm Street as part of the city’s grid streets network.
The Council voted 3-2, with councilmembers Chris Casdia and Liz Baxter opposing, to offer Granger $227,000 to purchase the entire parcel that houses Granger Motorsports, which is about .45 acres and includes a house and a barn.
Granger’s parcel is in the middle of parcels the city had already purchased for its Elm Street Project.
The Council also approved settling a case with former employee Derrick Smith, who sued the city after his Family Medical Leave Act time ran out and he didn’t return to work.
The Council:
* Tabled until April 9 a request from Wink Woodstock to establish outdoor seating and alcohol service area along the sidewalk in front of its location on Chambers Street;
n Approved a conceptual site plan for the former Walden Chase apartment complex site;
* Approved conducting the 2012 Wing and Rock Fest on Saturday and Sunday June 2 to 3 at the Park at City Center; the city stipulated that any alcohol served on Sunday wall begin at 12:30 p.m. and if USA Entertainment cannot get a sponsor for the Kids Zone, then there will not be a place for children to play;
n Tabled until April 9 a request from Outdoor Railroad LLC to appeal a sign permit denial by city staff.
The Council met in closed session to discuss personnel, real estate and litigation, but took no action.
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