interim park super leaving....

[derf]

Once again, Outer Banks superintendent post will be open
By CATHERINE KOZAK, The Virginian-Pilot
© July 7, 2005

ROANOKE ISLAND — The revolving door of National Park Service Outer Banks Group superintendents is getting more like a merry-go-round, with a temporary superintendent set to leave this week to be replaced by another acting superintendent. And the agency has yet to advertise to fill the empty post.

Philip Francis, who has been acting superintendent on the Outer Banks since former superintendent Lawrence Belli was abruptly reassigned in April, said he will leave Saturday to return to his post as deputy superintendent at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"When I first came here, we talked about me spending about 30 days and it's been about three months," Francis said Wednesday. "And it's time to go home."

Belli, meanwhile, is still calling Manteo home and has not reported to his new assignment in the concessions division at the Atlanta regional office, he said Wednesday.

"I'm temporarily assigned to Atlanta," he said. "But I have a lawyer, and I'm looking at this issue and trying to get it resolved."

He has resigned as a Manteo town commissioner, said Belli, whose term would have been up in December 2007.

Francis said Southeast Regional Director Patricia Hooks had agreed to let him go back to the mountain park that straddles North Carolina and Tennessee. But he said he has enjoyed his time on the Outer Banks and appreciated the support he received from the staff and the community.

"I've found a new place to go on vacation," he said. "I will definitely be back here."

Patrick Reed, the superintendent of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, will replace Francis as acting superintendent.

Reed has been superintendent at Chickamauga, the oldest and largest national military park, since 1991, Francis said, and was recently named superintendent of the year in the Southeast region.

It is not clear when a new superintendent will be named for the Outer Banks Group. Francis said the position is not posted on the federal government job Web site.

Outer Banks residents are still speculating why Belli was unexpectedly removed as superintendent on April 15. In a press release, Hooks said that it had "been determined that it is in the best interests of the park" that the change be made immediately.

Neil Bonney, a partner in the Virginia Beach law firm of Bonney & Allenberg, said that Belli was told little more when Hooks informed him that day in Atlanta.

"They have not explained themselves to our satisfaction," Bonney said. "We do not understand the reason for the reassignment ... We have never been provided any additional information."

Bonney said he has asked for an investigation by the agency's inspector general and has filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which he said is a federal agency that provides protection for federal whistle-blowers.

Wally Hibbard, the park service's deputy Southeast regional director, could not be reached late Wednesday afternoon.

Belli arrived on the Outer Banks in August 2001 and was quickly thrust into the planning mire for the First Flight Centennial of the Wright brothers' Dec. 17, 1903, flight. With the event widely credited as a resounding success, Belli was soon wrestling with planning an off-road vehicle management plan, another difficult and contentious issue that had flared anew just before Belli was reassigned.

After he was dismissed from his Outer Banks post, Belli requested time off and later went out on medical leave related to the stress from the reassignment, Bonney said.

Bonney, whose firm's expertise is federal employment law, said that it is not known how long Belli will be on leave from his Atlanta post.

"His medical condition prevents him from going at this time," the attorney said. "He's still suffering from severe distress. His doctor has not released him."

Technically, Belli still maintains the same grade and managerial title that he held as superintendent, Bonney said.

And Belli wants his job back.

"Absolutely," Bonney said. "He is seeking his former position."

Reach Catherine Kozak at (252) 441-1711 or cate.kozak@pilotonline.com

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derf

[Steve in Mass]

Strange....when I chatted with Frank Folb about this about three weeks ago, he had told me the interim guy had already left, which he was sad to see, since, in his opinion, he had done an outstanding job in the short time he was there.....

But perhaps Frank had inside info of what was to come.......

[derf]

But perhaps Frank had inside info of what was to come.......

frank usually does.......
derf

[derf]

more info ; from the OBPA site:
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Superintendent Phil Francis to Leave CAHA

Posted By: OBPA Info <contact@obpa.org> (sdn-ap-016dcwashP0240.dialsprint.net)
Date: 7/6/05 17:05

Phil Francis, NPS Acting Superintendent for Cape Hatteras National Seashore, is returning to Great Smoke NS this Saturday, July 9th.

Pat Reid will come on board on July 18th as Cape Hatteras NS's acting superintendent until a permanent superintendent is selected. Mark Hardgrove, Deputy Superintendent for CAHA, will take the helm until Reid's arrival.

Reid was a district ranger at CAHA from 1978 - 1983 & lived in Buxton. He comes to CAHA from the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, where he is deputy superintendent.

Reid obviously has working knowledge of the Seashore, as well as at least some of the current staff. OBPA is hopeful that Mr. Reid's tenure here as acting superintendent will be a continuation of the good working relationship the Seashore & user groups have striven for these last several months.

OBPA wishes to thank Phil Francis for his willingness to listen, his wonderful way of defusing a volatile situation, and his kindness. He will be sorely missed here at Cape Hatteras.

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derf
it's too bad he is leaving , just might have been the man for the job........