Archive for the 'Bill Pupo' Category
Bill Pupo, By Doug Cook, Special to the Review
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Plans to move to private sector
Chino Valley Town Manager Bill Pupo will retire at the end of January to accept a consulting job in Phoenix.
The 54-year-old Pupo, who has spent 31 years in city and/or town management, including stops in Spokane, Wash., and Surprise, Ariz., announced his decision to the CV Town Council during a Thursday night executive session.
Mayor Karen Fann said she and the council enjoyed working with Pupo, but they understand his leaving.
“I knew that Bill had enough time in his career that he could retire at any time,” Fann said. “I just wasn’t expecting it right now. We really are going to miss him. He has been a real blessing to the Town of Chino Valley, helping us plan for our inevitable future growth.”
Pupo leaves Chino Valley after four years as manager. He started his government career in Spokane, where he worked for more than two decades, first as an assistant city manager and later as city manager.
In March 2000, the Surprise City Council appointed Pupo as its city manager. In June 2003, the Surprise City Council voted against renewing Pupo’s contract and he left for Chino Valley shortly thereafter.
“I’ve been really blessed to be able to work with the mayor, council and staff that are here in Chino Valley,” Pupo said.
In February, Pupo will start working for PBS&J, a nationwide, Tampa, Fla.-based consulting firm specializing in infrastructure, water and engineering.
He will be the firm’s vice president for operations in Arizona and work out of a Phoenix office.
“I will be responsible for business, community and government relations,” Pupo said.
Vice Mayor Joel Baker said Pupo has taken the town “to a higher level” during his tenure in Chino Valley, which began in October 2003, making the town “a more viable member at the table in dealing with other neighboring municipalities.”
Pupo’s most notable accomplishment in Chino Valley has been laying the foundation for large-scale sewer and water projects for residential and commercial development.
Pupo and his wife, Cathy, have three grown daughters, all of whom live in the Phoenix area. He has one grandson, with another grandchild on the way.
“It was a surprise to me, and I’m both happy and sad,” Baker said of Pupo’s announcement. “I’m happy for Bill Pupo and his family, because he deserves to go off into a different direction. It’s difficult working with town councils and mayors for over 30 years.”
The council plans to replace Pupo immediately with an in-house selection.
“I’ve got a huge brick in my stomach about leaving,” said Pupo, who will retire Jan. 31. “But I’ve got a lot of excitement about what I’m looking to the future on.”
Fann said Friday afternoon that the council will appoint Interim Assistant Town Manager Jerry Stricklin, who doubles as the town’s development services director, to take over indefinitely as acting manager.
“He is very well respected by the other staff members and employees,” Fann said of Stricklin. “We’re not going to miss a beat here.”
The council will make the appointment official at its Jan. 24 meeting. Stricklin has served as an acting town manager twice during his career in other locales, including Wickenburg.
Stricklin’s major tasks on the horizon include revising the town’s General Plan, reviewing future growth and zoning issues, moving forward with the Big Chino pipeline and working more closely with the City of Prescott and Town of Prescott Valley.
Fann said the town will restructure Stricklin’s contract for taking on an added responsibility.
In October, Pupo signed a new annual contract with Chino Valley. He was to earn $139,205 - one of the higher salaries for a town manager in Arizona towns of 10,000 to 49,999 residents.
“With Bill’s retirement and because of the economic slowdown, this will enable the town to save some personnel costs,” Fann said.
Contact the reporter at dcook@prescottaz.com
Polls
Loading ...