NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk City Manager Chip Filer has resigned from his position, in what Mayor Kenny Alexander calls a "mutual separation."
There had been speculation in recent weeks that Dr. Filer would be leaving his position after the city council approved a new severance agreement earlier in the month.
City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint Deputy City Manager Pat Roberts to the position. Roberts was the city manager in Suffolk before becoming Norfolk's Deputy City Manager.
"I want to thank the city manager Chip Filer for the work that he did while he was our city manager," said Councilman Tommy Smigiel. "I do believe Mr. Roberts is going to do a great job in continuing the work for the city."
Filer resigned from his role effective immediately and Alexander said it was a mutual decision. He said there is no truth to the rumor that Filer was pushed out.
"I think it was more of a separation… a mutual separation. Dr. Filer has served us very well over the last four years," he said. "He felt that it was time. He felt that his work here was done. The majority of council members accepted his reasoning and rationale. We wish him and his family the best."
Alexander credits Filer with ushering the city through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The news comes two weeks after city council quietly approved a June 2023 severance agreement for Filer, which provides him a year’s pay and health insurance coverage for him and his family for a year.
Councilwoman Andria McLellan was vocal Tuesday night in saying she is disappointed with how this process played out.
"Having just come through much of the citizens uproar in how we hired Norfolk Police Chief without having enough transparency and here we are right back at it," she said.
Filer was most recently embroiled in controversy after hiring former Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot outside of the pool of candidates provided by Norfolk's search firm.
The Norfolk NAACP called for his resignation at the time, but the city auditor concluded there was no wrongdoing in the process.
Tuesday night, a few citizens aired their happiness at seeing Roberts in the role.
"You’re a man of your word, very transparent, you listen, and you’re receptive to what the people are saying," said one speaker.
Filer was appointed city manager back in August 2019.
Before working for the city, he worked in higher education at Old Dominion University as Associate Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.
Two weeks ago, city council members included Filer's severance agreement as part of the fiscal year 2024 compensation plan. In years past, city staff has used the word “if” multiple times in the annual agreement in the context that severance would be paid “if terminated.”
This year, they used the word “shall” four times instead.
The new agreement reads: "For his severance in June 2023, the city manager shall receive his annual salary for the twelve months preceding July 1, 2023, and for him and his family, he shall be eligible to elect one of the health care coverages offered city employees. The city manager shall choose to receive the severance payment as a lump sum or equal payments over the ensuing 26 pay periods. The health care coverage shall end upon his enrollment in the health care plan of a subsequent employer or twelve months whichever first occurs.
After the severance agreement was voted on, Councilwoman Andria McClellan said in an email to 13News Now, "We have discussed the possibility that he may leave the City of Norfolk, but we have not received any formal declaration or taken any formal vote."
Thursday, in a tweet, McClellan praised Filer on his leadership in the city. But, she voiced frustration over the lack of transparency in the search for the new city manager.
"A search provides a time for Council to reflect on what type of leadership, what goals, what focus is best for the city, an exercise we are very much in need of. We did not discuss this prior to offering the job to Mr. Roberts, nor have we undertaken any strategic planning on this Council since I was elected in 2016 - despite my requests. So, it is difficult to enumerate our priorities to the new city manager, the staff or our residents, which has resulted in frustration and a lack of trust, I fear. I was hopeful that Dr. Filer’s resignation would generate the space to discuss our priorities and vision for the city. That did not happen," the tweet read in part.