Hart promotes four acting directors

Interim City Manager Elaine Hart announced Tuesday that she has promoted four city employees to be the directors of their respective departments. Cora Wright, who has worked for the city of Austin since 1986 and has been interim director of the Austin Code Department since August 2016, is now the permanent director. According to a memo from Hart to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council, Wright has focused on issues identified in the 2016 city auditor’s report related to needed improvements in that department and has made significant progress. Hart also appointed Rosie Truelove as director of the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department. She took over as interim director in August 2016 in the wake of the departure of the former director, Betsy Spencer, who resigned under pressure. Prior to her appointment to Neighborhood Housing and Community Development, Truelove served as the city’s capital contracting officer for seven years. When Truelove was appointed to Neighborhood Housing, Hart appointed Rolando Fernandez to be the interim capital contracting officer. Hart announced that appointment would be permanent in Tuesday’s memo. Fernandez has worked for the city since 2006. Hart also appointed Jennifer Walls as the city’s fleet officer. According to Hart’s memo, Walls has served as interim fleet officer since December 2016 and previously served as deputy fleet officer and administrative services manager. Walls “was instrumental in developing and implementing an innovative partnership with (Austin ISD) for an automotive internship program to include training, curriculum development and mentoring” and has more than 17 years of governmental fleet experience.