Hiram Public Works Director named Interim City Manager

Hiram’s City Council held a special session on Friday, November 18 and appointed Director of Public Works/Zoning Administrator Jody Palmer to serve as Interim City Manager as of December 3, 2016. Hiram City Manager Barry Atkison announced his decision to resign during the council’s regular November meeting. Atkison’s resignation date was moved up from December 31 to December 2. Hiram’s council met for a special session on November 6 and voted to accept Atkison’s resignation. Atkison’s departure comes just seven months since his appointment.
Palmer has been in his job as Director of Public Works/Zoning Administrator since 2006.
In that role he managed day to day operations, working with facility management, public infrastructure (roads, water, & sanitation), parks & recreation management, contract management, zoning and land use administration, and personnel management.
Hiram Mayor Teresa Philyaw said she hoped a permanent replacement could be found by early next year. Palmer may or may not be included in the candidates the council will consider for the permanent position.
Hiram’s charter calls for a city manager to be appointed. Atkison was chosen from a pool of three finalists by Mayor Teresa Philyaw and council members to fill the vacancy left by the city’s first manager Robbie Rokovitz, who left in September of last year. “The whole council was very pleased when we interviewed him,” Ms. Philyaw commented at the time on the city’s website. “We felt that he really wanted to be a part of our community, and that he would work hard for Hiram -- while always remaining mindful and conservative with our finances.”
Atkison began as the city’s manager in April and succeeded Hiram’s first city manager under the new charter, Robbie Rokovitz, who left the city after three years in 2015 to pursue another opportunity in the private sector.
The council hired Rokovitz in August of 2012 after changing the city’s charter to create a manager-council form of government, as is the case with Dallas.
Former manager Rokovitz cautioned on exiting last year that the council-manager form of governing the city adopted still needs work. “It’s in the best interest of the city to have a long-term city manager and not have a revolving door,” Rokovitz said. Atkison gave his reasons for leaving in a long prepared statement to the council, later made available in a press release. “Although it was my intention and desire to work with this elected body... unfortunately...the reality has sunk in seven-months into this journey that my leadership style does not blend well with this elected body,” Atkison told the council in November.
Atkison went on to say that recent down-sizing efforts coupled with shrinking revenue will countermine the city’s efforts to thrive in Paulding’s future.
“Hiram is a city with an identity crisis. It is time for a cohesive vision that lays out a clear direction for Hiram’s future,” Atkison said.
Atkison served as Cedartown’s city manager from 2002-04. He came to the Hiram city manager position from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Marietta.