Key city unit undergoes shakeup

An important function of city government is now in limbo, due to ties being severed between Mount Airy and a private firm that has handled its planning-related services since 2011.

This change stemming from a contract issue has been accompanied by Mount Airy Planning Director Andy Goodall taking on a new role in Pilot Mountain.

Goodall, who was an employee of Benchmark CMR Inc. headquartered in Charlotte, joined the town staff in Pilot as of Monday.

He is now the director of planning and community development in the municipality southeast of Mount Airy, which includes Main Street development.

Although he was employed by an out-of-town entity, Benchmark has a home in Mount Airy and became well-known locally for his work in the city Planning Department.

It was devoid of personnel Wednesday, with Jeannie Studicki, a city planner who was a Benchmark employee, also no longer on the job.

Both occupied office space in the Municipal Building.

Contract issue

Meanwhile, a new planning director is being sought by City Manager Darren Lewis through an announcement of the job vacancy.

This effectively is returning Mount Airy to a situation before 2011 when the city had its own planning director who was on the municipal payroll.

After the retirement of that longtime director, Jeff Coutu, Mount Airy officials opted to explore what was believed to be a more cost-effective privatization route for its planning-related operations.

That led to the longtime relationship with Benchmark.

Its scope of work has included the areas of land-use planning, downtown revitalization, urban design, master planning, development of ordinances, planning and zoning administration, outsourced local government staffing and much more, according to city government documents.

Along with other functions, Benchmark personnel have served as a liaison between the Mount Airy Planning Board and the city commissioners who appoint members to that advisory group.

Its contract with the city was renewed periodically, the last time in early April. The Mount Airy Board of Commissioners then approved a $158,775 pact for the next fiscal year ending on June 30, 2025 — a $13,775 hike from the present cost.

“And they decided not to sign that contract,” Mayor Jon Cawley said Wednesday regarding officials of Benchmark, who had sought a three-year extension.

“It was 100 percent their decision,” the mayor said.

The contract opt-out had been accompanied by Benchmark eliminating certain items from of its scope of services.

In fact, Cawley pointed out that Mount Airy was the only one of Benchmark’s clients being served in the manner occurring locally.

With the severing of ties leading to the city government seeking its own planning director, the mayor explained that this is part of a normal ebb and flow from public to privatized functions as conditions merit.

Cawley and Lewis believe this will work out better for Mount Airy as part of an effort to provide “the best services to the community at the best price,” the mayor said.