NORFOLK
Nearly a year ago, with more than $600 million in downtown construction projects set to begin, Mayor Paul Fraim urged City Manager Regina V.K. Williams to hire a "construction czar" to keep traffic flowing.
On Monday, Williams said she has hired a former Ford Motor Co. manager, Paul A. Filion, as the city's transportation and downtown construction project manager.
Filion will coordinate construction of light rail, the Wachovia Center office tower, three hotels, a convention center and new residential developments, nearly all in the downtown area. Work on those projects is now either under way or scheduled to begin later this year.
Fraim said a construction manager was needed to oversee the projects so that traffic bottlenecks and utility disruptions downtown were held to a minimum.
Filion joined Ford in 1988 and worked as a manager at the Norfolk F-150 truck assembly plant from 1993 until its closing last year.
"His experience in managing complex projects that plow new ground" will serve him well in Norfolk, Williams wrote in a memo to council members.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
qualifications
Since he became a manager in 1993 the Norfolk Ford Plant had 3 major construction expansion projects. In 1995 a $290 million body/paint building expansion. In 2001 another $375 million 350,000 square foot body building area expansion and in 2005 a 10 story $26.6 million ASRS building. Ford had invested in Norfolk because of it's quality and efficency through the years which was part of the reason the closing announcment was such a shock. The article did not remind readers of these major construction projects and it did not indicate if he was involved in their managment.
???
This job was posted and he was the most qualified applicant??
Agreed
It seems someone who has experience managing construction would have been a better fit for this job.
Just a few comments and questions............
managing truck plants isn't new ground its a tested and proven process, over 150 years. Its in the manufacturing line of work. Norfolk's light rail is a major construction project. Was Mr. Filion the most qualified person for the job? What were his qualifications for this job? If I'm wrong some please tell me. I'm just a bit suspicious from previous bad decisions from the surrounding city officials.
2 Questions:
1. What is this guy's salary? Conveniently omitted.
2. Who is paying this guy? I'll bet it is the City when it should be the developers.
And you wonder why the budget is so tight and r/e taxes keep going up. More fiscal responsibility from our City Council.