City quickly loses 3 senior officials

City manager is the latest to resign from new DeKalb municipality.

Within a span of months, the city of Stonecrest has lost its top three administrative officials under the mayor.

Since December, the city attorney, city clerk and city manager have all resigned from DeKalb County’s newest city. All three were the first people to hold their respective positions after Stonecrest voted to become a city in 2016.

The most senior resignation comes from City Manager Michael Harris, who publicly announced his decision after Monday night’s City Council meeting. The city only said he is leaving to pursue “another opportunity.”

“Though I am pursuing another opportunity, I am extremely grateful for the chance to participate in the successful launch of one of Georgia’s newest and greatest cities,” Harris said in a statement. It was unclear Wednesday afternoon when Harris’ resignation goes into effect.

City Clerk Brenda James, who

was in charge of the city’s records, left to take a position with a less demanding schedule and closer to her Fayette County home, city spokesman Adrion Bell said. A job listing for city clerk was posted on Stonecrest’s website Feb. 11.

And City Attorney Thompson “Tom” Kurrie Jr.’s resignation was approved by the City Council at its Jan. 2 meeting, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. He notified Mayor Jason Lary in December that he would no longer be working for the city and recommended that Winston Denmark be designated for the position. Denmark has since taken over as city attorney.

Bell said a human resources company that works with the city will help fill the open positions on an interim basis until new permanent replacements are hired.

Such turnover among high-ranking officials is significant for such a new city with a population of more than 54,000, and has led some to question the leadership culture.

“It’s never a good sign when you have to start over,” Councilmember Diane Adoma told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It just doesn’t make sense. These are people who oversee the entire city.”