Decatur's City Manager To Retire

DECATUR, GA — Peggy Merriss, who has served as Decatur's city manager for the past 25 years, plans to retire, the city announced Tuesday.

The Decatur City Commission said it plans to appoint someone to replace Merriss, who has worked for the city since 1983, by the end of the year.

"All of us have reaped the benefits of Ms. Merriss’ visionary leadership, her ability to think creatively, and her passion for developing a strong management team," Mayor Pattie Garrett said in a news release. "She is an innovative thought leader, a model of integrity, and has a unique ability to help the city pursue vibrant community engagement and healthy infrastructure while maintaining strong, conservative fiscal management for the city."

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Merriss joined the city staff in 1983 as personnel director with a commitment to serve for two years. She held that position for six years, then was named assistant city manager in 1989. In 1993, she was named city manager, celebrating 25 years in that role in June.

"I have been very fortunate that the community has elected outstanding city commissioners who have supported innovation, risk-taking and outcomes that further the mission and vision of the City of Decatur," Merriss said in the release. " I have also worked with the most enthusiastic, dedicated and experienced public employees in the world. I cannot imagine having had any other opportunity that would have been so fulfilling."

During Merriss' tenure, the city has rebuilt all of its facilities, including city hall, the Decatur Recreation Center, Fire Stations 1 and 2, the public works building and the Beacon Municipal Complex that includes the police department and Ebster Recreation Center. All city parks have been renovated as well.

The MARTA plaza also was rebuilt under Merriss' guidance and, most recently, Decatur purchased the former Children's Home with its 77 acres of greenspace.

In June, the National Civic League named Decatur as a 2018 All America City in recognition of its work toward inclusive civic engagement, addressing critical issues, community policing, and its commitment to issues of equity and inclusion.

Decatur operates under a council-manager form of government, which means the city commission hires a professional city manager to run day-to-day operations while commissioners formulate policy. Decatur has only had two city managers in the last 45 years — Curtis Branscome served as city manager for 20 years before Merriss took the office.

Garrett said the commission will hire an executive search service to recruit applicants for the city manager position. She said the process will include an opportunity for community input on the characteristics, traits, and experience residents would like to see in a city manager. The City Commission will make the final decision and their intent is to appoint someone by the end of 2018, the release said.

A resident of Decatur, Merriss said she plans to stay in the community and remain active as she "explores roles that will continue her passion for great local government."

Photo courtesy City of Decatut