PORTSMOUTH, Va. — CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct Councilman Barnes’ title.
Vernell Woods is one of the latest Portsmouth city officials to be let go. He worked as deputy city manager for seven months and was fired by interim city manager, Dr. Lydia Pettis-Patton.
"I really thought I was coming to Portsmouth to improve it, " Woods said.
With more than 30 years of city government experience, he reluctantly left a city job in Newport News after being encouraged by then-Portsmouth interim city manager Mimi Terry to take the leap.
Last month, the city council voted 4-3 to hire Steven Carter -- a former Albany, Georgia city manager -- as the permanent city manager over Terry. Pettis-Patton's firm, the Berkley Group, was then brought in on an interim basis to serve for 30 days, pushing Terry out completely.
Carter starts his new post on Monday, April 22. He will be Portsmouth's fifth city manager in four years.
"I don't know if she had the authority to do what she did. She had to, because no one said anything. I'm assuming council had to tell her what she could do," Woods added, referring to Pettis-Patton.
But Mayor Shannon Glover said he was unaware that Pettis-Patton would be personally serving as interim city manager. He was not in the council majority that voted to hire Carter and Pettis-Patton in the interim.
"Any time you come in and make quick changes, especially when you're only there for 30 days, I would think that that would be concerning to anyone," Glover said.
Portsmouth Councilman De'Andre Barnes said it's not unusual for an interim city manager to hire and fire. He points to Terry as an example. However, she held the job for a year. Barnes also claimed Glover knew Pettis-Patton would be personally coming back to the city.
Woods worries about what he considers instability at the top of city government. He's a Portsmouth native and wants to see the city succeed. He advises citizens to do their homework when it comes time to vote for city council.
"Find out what they're running on. Find out what their platform is. Find out their vision for the city. Find out if can they work with each other."
13 News Now has reached out to Pettis-Patton and Carter for comment, but have not heard back.