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She's Gone
Author: About time
Date: 01-21-2011 - 16:41
It’s the end of the line for SMART chief
By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Lillian Hames, the general manager of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District since its inception seven years ago, resigned Friday.
In a statement released by SMART, Hames said she was leaving to pursue new opportunities.
David Heath, SMART’s director of finance and administration, will be interim general manager until a new chief is selected.
As general manager, Hames was paid $176,150 annually, plus 7 percent in deferred compensation and a car allowance of $634 per month.
Hames informed the SMART board of her decision Friday.
She was in charge of an agency that was attempting to build a commute rail line from Cloverdale to Larkspur, using a quarter-cent sales tax that was passed by voters in 2008.
SMART has been mired in controversy since it became apparent that the recession was eating into sales tax revenues while construction costs were increasing.
SMART, which now is $350 million short of being able to build the line by 2014, has instead adopted a plan that would build an initial operating segment from Railroad Square in Santa Rosa to downtown San Rafael.
Hames was not at the SMART board meeting on Wednesday, when in a closed session the board conducted a performance review.
It fueled speculation by some SMART critics that Hames was being dismissed.
Valerie Brown, chairwoman of SMART, said on Thursday that Hames had not been fired.
By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Lillian Hames, the general manager of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District since its inception seven years ago, resigned Friday.
In a statement released by SMART, Hames said she was leaving to pursue new opportunities.
David Heath, SMART’s director of finance and administration, will be interim general manager until a new chief is selected.
As general manager, Hames was paid $176,150 annually, plus 7 percent in deferred compensation and a car allowance of $634 per month.
Hames informed the SMART board of her decision Friday.
She was in charge of an agency that was attempting to build a commute rail line from Cloverdale to Larkspur, using a quarter-cent sales tax that was passed by voters in 2008.
SMART has been mired in controversy since it became apparent that the recession was eating into sales tax revenues while construction costs were increasing.
SMART, which now is $350 million short of being able to build the line by 2014, has instead adopted a plan that would build an initial operating segment from Railroad Square in Santa Rosa to downtown San Rafael.
Hames was not at the SMART board meeting on Wednesday, when in a closed session the board conducted a performance review.
It fueled speculation by some SMART critics that Hames was being dismissed.
Valerie Brown, chairwoman of SMART, said on Thursday that Hames had not been fired.
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 SMART GM to Go
|
George | 01-20-2011 - 13:29 |
|
She's Gone |
About time | 01-21-2011 - 16:41 |
|
Re: SMART GM to Go
|
Gene Poon | 01-21-2011 - 21:44 |