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Julie Burch will be Charlotte’s interim city manager for nearly three months while City Council searches for a replacement for Curt Walton, whose last day is Friday.
Burch, 61, who has been with the city since 1987, is currently an assistant city manager responsible for neighborhoods, housing and environmental issues. Council members voted unanimously Monday to elevate Burch.
Burch is not a candidate to replace Walton. Council members previously agreed that whoever is picked interim would not be a candidate for the top job.
The city and its search consultant, The Waters Group, will begin accepting applications Tuesday. The application period runs through Jan. 18.
The city hopes to hire a new manager by the end of February and introduce the new leader to the public in early March.
Walton, who became manager in 2007, is stepping down after guiding the city through the economic downturn without a property tax increase or significant budget cuts. But his plan to spend nearly $1 billion on capital projects to revitalize struggling parts of the city is in limbo. Council members can’t agree on whether to support the plan, and voted Monday to delay any consideration of it until 2013.
Walton’s last meeting was Monday.
“He has guided the city through some very difficult economic times,” said Mayor Anthony Foxx.
Foxx also praised Walton for building one of the nation’s “most effective, most diverse staffs.”
Burch’s current salary is about $200,000, and her pay rate will be increased by $20,000 while she serves as interim manager.
The last two managers were hired from inside the city. But Mayor Anthony Foxx has said he wants a national search, and he wants candidates to know the city is serious about hiring from the outside.
