Warrenton of cials to launch search for new town manager

Town council voted Oct. 30 to part ways with Godfrey

By James Ivancic, Times Staff Writer

Warrenton Town Council could initiate a search for a new town manager soon following last week’s vote to release Brannon Godfrey early from his contract after three years of service.

“I would think there would be a lot of applications. It’s a good job and sought after,” replied Councilman Robert Kravetz (ward 4) when asked if he thought council would have a difficult time filling the position.

“The search could either be for an interim or a permanent or both may happen simultaneously,” Kravetz said Monday.

Kravetz supplied one of the five votes to release Godfrey following a closed-door meeting on Oct. 30. Councilmen voting with Kravetz included Sean Polster (at large), Alec Burnett (ward 2), Brett Hamby (ward 3) and Kevin Carter (ward 5). Councilmen Renard Carlos (atlarge) and Jerry Wood (ward 1) voted against the move to terminate.

In an interview Tuesday, Burnett said the council and Godfrey had areas of disagreement. Godfrey “is enormously talented. There’s no question. There was no one cause that preceded our action,” Burnett said. “These things happen. I’m grateful to Brannon for his years of service. I have no doubt he’ll find success shortly. He has a number of accolades he can stand proudly on.

Brannon Godfrey

“I would write Brannon a letter of recommendation right now,” Burnett added. But Burnett said it was felt someone other than Godfrey is needed to fulfill the council’s vision for improvements in town’s economic viability, public safety and infrastructure, Burnett said.

“We need to have our eye on the future, and we need leadership who agrees with that,” Burnett said. “That ability exists. We have outstanding department heads. It’s not a question of day-to-day management.” The town manager “needs to see our vision and have a strategy” to achieve it, Burnett said. That person also “needs to be a step or a step in a half” ahead in achieving it, he said.

Burnett said council spent “hours and hours and hours” in discussion before the majority felt that releasing Godfrey was “the right decision for Warrenton.”

Warrenton Mayor Carter Nevill, in statement released the day after the vote, said council “has decided to pursue a different direction in our executive leadership.” “We are grateful for the dedication Mr. Godfrey showed to our town during his tenure and sincerely appreciate his efforts in the community,” the statement continued.

Kravetz wouldn’t discuss the reasons for discharging Godfrey beyond what was stated in the press release.

Move comes amid search for new police chief, investigation

Town council had recently put a hold on the search for a new town police chief after receiving a letter from Commonwealth’s Attorney James P. Fisher criticizing the way the search was being handled. The letter noted Fisher was asked for his input as the search was nearing an end and the field of candidates had been winnowed.

Fisher was also critical of the town’s handling of a September incident at a Warrenton bar involving off-duty Warrenton police officers that resulted in a young woman suffering a broken nose. The Virginia State Police is still investigating the incident.

I would think there would be a lot of applications. It’s a good job and sought after.” – Councilman Robert Kravetz, Ward 4

Wood said he didn’t think Fisher letters were “a big thing” that factored into the decision to end Godfrey’s contract early.

“It was coming to a head,” Wood said. “That’s my personal view. [Godfrey] was supposed to notify us in August about renewing his contract. But council has a responsibility to follow up with him. Council has a responsibility to ask the town manager for information and remind us. We worked on the budget between January and June. Nobody on the finance com mittee or council brought up the 360 review.”

Wood was referring to the “350-degree performance review” the council had agreed to conduct on Godfrey. In October, the council advertised a request for proposals from consultants to conduct the evaluation, which would include interviews with town staff members whom he supervised.

In January, the council extended Godfrey’s contract for a year and added a provision for a performance review. Funds for the review weren’t included in the budget approved by council last spring, though.

“This was everybody’s responsibility. If I were under scrutiny, I might not put it in the budget either. If they don’t remember to do it, why should I?” Wood said.

Before the Oct. 30 vote, Wood spoke up on behalf of Godfrey, who didn’t address council himself and chose not to comment about the vote afterward.

Wood listed what he considered to be Godfrey’s numerous accomplishments during his three years with the town, including the successful financing of an expansion of the town’s water and sewer system, the opening of the new dog park, the completion of several sidewalk projects and the sale of the John Mosby house.

Wood called Godfrey “accessible” and a “very good ambassador” to the community.

“He’s provided the council with a wealth of sound information, so we can make sound policy,” Wood said at the meeting. “Our town manager is a really good person. … I know he can’t be everything to all people. It’s a tough job, but he has my respect and I’m glad to call this guy a friend of mine.”

Reach James Ivancic at jivancic@fauquier.com