ISLE OF WIGHT
Isle of Wight County Administrator Anne Seward resigned from her post at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday night. She had been in her post since mid-October 2013.

Rex Alphin, board chairman, read the following statement:

“The Board has agreed to accept Ms. Seward’s resignation as county administrator effective Dec. 31, 2015. Given the fact that several of the new Board members campaigned on, have met and conveyed their desire to take the Board in a new direction, the current Board and Ms. Seward felt it was in the best interests of the county.

“The Board appreciates Ms. Seward’s contributions to the county the last two years. Ms. Seward will be paid six month’s severance and will be available to consult with the new county administrator during that period.”

He declined a request for further comment.

County spokesman Don Robertson said the following statement that Seward made on Voices from the Isle, the County’s own website, would serve as her comment:

“The County has an AWESOME TEAM and together we have achieved a number of great things that will serve the County well for years to come. As I reflect over the last two years, I am extremely proud to have worked with employees from every department to establish core Team Values that have been embraced and integrated into the organizational culture and fabric of the daily work that we do. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with each of them and I wish the Board and staff the best in the future.”

Seward had been the administrator since mid-October 2013, succeeding Doug Caskey, who retired at the start of that month. Previous to that time, she had been chief financial officer in Suffolk. Before that, Seward had been director of budget and finance and then assistant county administrator in Isle of Wight.

Windsor district supervisor Delores “Dee Dee” Darden had this to say:

“I think it’s a sad day for all of Isle of County. I think we’re really going to miss her leadership and vision. Anne Seward worked tirelessly to get our financial house in order. She was as real asset.”

Darden added that the administrator had “gathered a great group of directors and group of leaders that were working hard to make IOW a better place.”

In the Voice’s posting on Friday were listed some of the staff’s achievements under Seward’s leadership:

• Improved financial management resulting in a deficit reduction from $7.9M to $1.4M;

•Numerous policy updates to in an effort to strengthen operations and efficiency;

•Facilitation of a uniformed Facility Use Agreement; and

•Acquisition of new public safety apparatus.