Filling the Void at City Hall

Last month after two Gaithersburg officials announced they'd be leaving their posts for other opportunities, the city was left scratching it's head over who would do their jobs in the short term.

Greg Ossont, the Director of Planning and Code Enforcement, had been with the city for 15 years and was a deep well of institutional knowledge.

He left to become the Deputy Director of Planning and Development for the County's Department of General Services.

Crystal Carr, Gaithersburg's Community Services director, has taken a job as president of the Healthcare Initiative Foundation.

She has been with the city since January 2006.

City Manager Angel Jones sent out the following list detailing how staff will cover the duties Ossont and Carr left behind.

Jimmy Frazier-Bey - Acting Director of Homeless Services.  Oversight of the HUD grant, interaction with the Montgomery County Housing Leadership Team, liaison duties with the Friends of Wells/Robertson House, assisting with interim service provision.

Maureen Herndon - Acting Director of Community Services.  Administrative oversight of Community Services operations, contract monitoring for the nonprofit grant program, case management and interim service provision, oversight of the CHARACTER COUNTS! program.

Rob Robinson - Team Leader for Planning/Transportation and Environment.  Long range planning initiatives and oversight of transportation and environmental issues, overseeing development review and final site plan entitlements for the Crown Farm, tracking involvement in local and regional transportation initiatives.

Lauren Pruss - Team Leader for Planning.  Working with the Office of Economic Development to acclimate our new Director to the City’s procedures and educate him about current and future development initiatives, oversight for the Historic District Commission, Planning Commission, and downtown redevelopment initiatives.

Trudy Schwarz -Team Leader for Community Planning.  Entitlements process for Washingtonian North, Monument and Kaiser Permanente, oversight of the City Code revisions required for Energov, oversight of the Board of Appeals.

Kevin Roman - Team Leader for Neighborhood Services and Animal Control.  Primary contact for neighborhood associations and property management companies, direct contact duties on all neighborhood-related matters, leading Council in the Communities and other outreach efforts, oversight of the Animal Control Division.

Wes Burnette will assume responsibility as the Team Leader for Plan Review and Inspection Services.

Linda Kobylski will serve as the Team Leader for Permitting and Licensing.