Jessica Cowles, a familiar face at the City Council meetings will be leaving the City for good on September 30th and submitted her resignation this afternoon.
Cowles is the City’s legislative and policy analyst and works hand in hand with the Acting City Attorney in crafting the documents and policy that will eventually become law in the City.
Her duties included managing the City Council’s legislative process (introduction, public hearing, Committee review, and vote) for all legislation. Conducting policy research for drafting legislation, Additionally, she served on a committee to manage the City’s financial risk by analyzing budgets and trends for cost‐containment strategies.
While not a departmental director, this position is a significant one in the Department of Law just under the City Attorney. She was hired by the City in 2010 by former Mayor Joshua Cohen.
Currently the City is actively searching for many key positions. Mayor Pantelides has said that he will nominate candidates for City Attorney and City Manager at next week’s meeting, but he also said that he would be nominating them at the last council meeting as well. In addition to City Manager and City Attorney, the following senior positions are currently vacant and the Mayor has not offered a timetable for filling them.
- Director of Transportation
- Director of Planning and Zoning
- Director of Parks and Recreation
- Harbormaster
- Director of Public Works (the current Director, David Jarrell, is expected to return if a City Manager is appointed)
Cowles will become the Town Administrator for Berwyn Heights, MD in Prince George’s County. Berwyn Heights has a population of about 3,200.
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