For Margie Rose, the time was right.
“It’s time, and I’m glad that I can recognize it,” said Rose.
After 16 years serving the City of Corpus Christi, the last two as City Manager, Rose resigned at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“She served the city well, made a lot of friends here in Corpus Christi, but I think she came to the conclusion it was time for her to move on,” said Mayor Joe McComb.
Rose’s decision came following a performance review, her second in three months. The first, in February, was actually her 2016-17 performance review, which had been delayed for various reasons including the Special Mayoral Election and Hurricane Harvey. Tuesday’s review was her regularly scheduled 2017-18 review.
The city faces a number of issues, including a multimillion dollar budget shortfall and massive delinquent commercial utility bills. However, Mayor McComb doesn’t believe any one particular issue led to Rose’s resignation.
“I just think it was an accumulation of events over the two year period,” said McComb. “They stack up in your wheelbarrow that you’re pushing and pretty soon the load gets pretty heavy.”
Speaking after Tuesday’s council meeting, Rose also said there wasn’t a single issue which led to her decision.
“As a professional, you reach a point where you know when it’s time to make a transition and I feel that now is the time,” said Rose.
According to McComb, no ultimatum was given to Rose to either resign or she’d be fired. In fact, he says that never came up.
What the Mayor wants the people to know is that Rose will be missed in city government.
“We owe her a debt of gratitude for stepping in, in a tough situation,” said McComb. “She did good work, and we wish her the best.”
Rose will receive a severance package from the city equaling six months pay, or $110,000. She will also keep her medical benefits for a period of time.
