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SALT LAKE CITY — One of Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski's new department directors has resigned less than a month after taking the position.
April Townsend became director of the Salt Lake City Public Services Department when the Salt Lake City Council consented to her appointment March 1, but Biskupski announced Friday that Townsend had chosen to leave the city to focus on her education.
"April is a highly qualified and an excellent choice to lead the department of public services, but this department requires enormous commitment and responsibility from its director," Biskupski said in a prepared statement. "April expressed to me a need to devote more attention to other areas of her life, and I respect that decision."
Townsend had most recently worked as the director of finance and operations for the Salt Lake County Library System. From 2005 to 2012, she worked in the county mayor's office as director of administrative services.
Biskupski had appointed Townsend to replace Rick Graham, who served Salt Lake City for more than 35 years.
“I was deeply honored to be asked to serve Mayor Biskupski and the great employees of the department of public services, but over the last week, I have come to realize that at this point in my career, my focus is upon furthering my academic interests and completing my doctorate work.” Townsend said in a prepared statement.
Related:
Biskupski sends city's 30-year public services director out of office
A sixth Salt Lake City department director has left City Hall as part of Mayor Jackie Biskupski's transition into office.Biskupski spokesman Matthew Rojas said Friday that Townsend's resignation is effective immediately and Lisa Shaffer, the department's administrative services director, will be acting as interim director of public services until the position can be filled permanently.
In addition to public services, two other director positions remain vacant after six directors either resigned or were terminated following Biskupski's election: redevelopment agency and information management services.
The mayor is also still in the process of selecting two directors to head two new departments she plans to create, for economic development and sustainability.
Rojas said there is no set timeline to fill the positions, but staff is "pouring over" more than 100 resumes to find the new directors. He added that a "strong" interim director, Justin Belliveau, has been chosen to head the redevelopment agency while the search continues.
"The mayor is committed to finding the right people to lead Salt Lake City," Rojas said. "People who not only have the skills, but also embody the philosophy and management style of a manager who will listen to employees and encourage them to grow — that is really important to the mayor. This is a really thoughtful process."
