VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach City Manager Dave Hansen announced his resignation Wednesday, Vice Mayor Jim Wood confirmed to 13News Now.
Hansen said in an email to city employees:
"For 13 and a half years, I have had the honor of working with you to support our city and to make things better for Virginia Beach. Thank you for believing in me and coming to work with good intentions and putting forth your best efforts.
Today, we find ourselves in difficult times. It is during these times that we must rally in support of each other so as to overcome the hardships we face. Our most recent tragedy will take all our energy, strength and patience so we can walk the long path of recovery ahead. You define your destiny. You determine your work environment. You are accountable for your own actions. I don’t believe in pointing fingers, I believe in rolling up our sleeves and figuring out how to solve our challenges. I encourage you to do the same.
Today, I will be resigning as your City Manager and submitting for retirement. I want you to know I will remain your biggest cheerleader and don’t you ever believe you are anything less than the very best. Take care of yourselves, your coworkers and our citizens."
Hansen worked for Virginia Beach for 13 years and helped lead the city's response to one of the worst mass shootings in Virginia history three months ago when a city employee killed 12 people at a municipal building.
But family members of some of the victims have been critical of Hansen's response to the shooting, saying he hadn't been responsive to their requests for information.
RELATED: Virginia Beach mass shooting survivors share their stories with city council at listening session
Recently, the Virginia Beach Interdenominational Ministers Conference had called for Hansen's firing in a letter to Mayor Bobby Dyer, citing what they called Hansen's lack of leadership over the past three years.
Hansen resigned following a meeting with city council Tuesday night where the group discussed his job performance. Councilman Guy Tower said a "significant majority" of city council members said they were concerned about Hansen's management.
“It was clear that [Hansen] had lost the confidence of the majority of council members and that it was time for the relationship to end," Tower said. 'I was in agreement with the majority and thought the relationship was broken and it was time to make a change."
Vice Mayor Jim Wood said he disagreed with the reported "majority" of council members. Wood said the city will miss Hansen's experience and knowledge and he praised how Hansen handled the aftermath of the May 31 mass shooting.
“I think he deserved the opportunity to continue to work and I think we would have done well to keep him here," Wood said. "But our city is stronger than any one person so if he chooses to leave we’re not going to dry up and blow away, but it’s going to be a challenge for us.”
Councilman Michael Berlucchi and others said Hansen's response to the mass shooting did not affect council concerns leading to his resignation. Berlucchi said he's now focused on a nationwide search for Hansen's replacement, one who could develop a new "framework for teamwork" with city council and pushes Virginia Beach goals forward.
Earlier this month, Virginia Beach City Council deferred a vote on a raise for Hansen and other "city council appointees." Hansen had an annual salary of $263,611.40, but some council members had felt it was too much for such a position.
“The President makes $400,000, the Secretary of Defense makes $210,700, the Governor of Virginia makes $175,000, Four Star Flag Officer $189,700,” Councilman John Moss said in a recent post on social media. “Now do any of you believe Mr. Hansen’s job is more difficult than the President, Secretary of Defense, the Governor or the Chief of Naval Operations? Of course not.”
Councilwoman Jessica Abbot also voiced opposition to a pay raise.
On Monday, Councilman Aaron Rouse made a lengthy post on Facebook saying the "status-quo" was holding back the city's growth, and that a change was needed in the role of city manager.
"I am tuned-in to the interdenominational league of pastors/ministers, self-proclaimed deficit hawks, large & small business owners, city employees and everyday common citizens, a majority of them have lost confidence in the city manager for one reason or another," Rouse wrote. "In my opinion, this inhibits Virginia Beach’s ability to move forward and it is time for a fresh start."
Hansen was selected as city manager in 2016, but he had been a part of Virginia Beach's government since 2006.
FROM 2016: Virginia Beach names new city manager
At the time of his appointment, then-Mayor William Sessoms said of Hansen in a statement, "Dave has earned the respect of this City Council, business and civic leaders and employees. He knows this community and he understands what we need to do to keep moving forward."
City council is set to name an interim manager on September 3. Deputy City Manager Tom Leahy will serve as acting manager until then.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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