Post by red on Apr 16, 2008 10:17:36 GMT -8
Azusa official leaving post
Development head takes Murietta job
By Bethania Palma, Staff Writer
Bruce Coleman, who joined the city's staff as economic and community development director in October of 2005, will work his last day in Azusa on Thursday. City officials called him an integral part in making various projects, including long-awaited downtown developments, move forward.
"He was one of the best things that came to Azusa a couple of years ago," said planning commissioner Jorge Rosales. "He got things moving."
Coleman said he was taking on a bigger task.
"It's just a great opportunity for me to go and become director of economic development for the city of Murrieta," he said.
Coleman he believes that as a result of hard teamwork, Azusa is on the edge of exciting things, development-wise.
"I do feel very proud to have participated in that process," he added.
City Manager Fran Delach said he does not expect Coleman's position to be difficult to fill and that he has already drawn interest from qualified prospects.
Delach added that in the 60-to-90-day interim between Coleman's departure and hiring a new staffer, the economic director's duties will be shared by himself, Assistant City Manager Robert Person and Public Works director James Maksnoff.
Rosales expressed concern Coleman's departure could slow things down.
"People are expecting and anticipating the completion of these projects," he said. "The key is you don't want to lose the momentum that was built."
Delach said Coleman is an exceptionally hard worker with a high energy level.
"Perseverance and persistence would be two words that I would relate directly with him," he said.
But, he added, "because of the economy, a number of things have slowed down. If there had been a time for this, now is not necessarily a bad time."
www.sgvtribune.com/rds_search/ci_8940152