Harriss: My point man on tough assignments

Bill Harriss, who is retiring after twelve years as City Manager, told reporters from Historic City News that his is pleased with the city commission’s decision to promote Chief Operations Officer, John Regan as his successor when he retires this summer.

48 year-old Regan joined the city management team twelve years ago and quickly rose from utilities director.

As he prepares to leave his post, Harriss noted that city managers in St. Augustine outlast other cities and counties — who average only three years. Harriss has previously credited the quality and professionalism of the city administrative staff for the length of city manager’s tenure.

Both Harriss and Joe Pomar, the previous city manager, were promoted from within local ranks. It was no surprise that Harriss felt it important to search for his successor within our own city government.

Harriss, who completes a total of twenty-five years of service to the city, often acknowledged, “John’s my point man on the tough assignments.”

Among those assignments: the Riberia Street landfill move and restoration, West Augustine infrastructure plans, Visitor Center parking facility, seawall south of the Bridge of Lions, Riberia Street project, and Aviles Street redesign.

Regan is known for his easy-going nature and ability to draw diverse elements together to find solutions. According to a quote that appeared in The St. Augustine Report, John was asked if moving to the main seat might lessen his value in effectively working behind the scenes.

“We have one of the most professional teams I’ve ever worked with,” he replied. “I look forward to continued great progress with our team.”

Regan came to St. Augustine from positions as environmental engineer with the Alachua County Department of Environmental Protection and senior environmental engineer with Gainesville Regional Utilities.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Environmental Science.

Harriss currently earns $134,218.79 annually and is the highest paid employee of the city. John Regan, as Chief Operations Officer, earns $110,181.68 — as does Tim Burchfield the city’s Chief Administrative Officer.

How much this will change as the terms of Regan’s contract is negotiated, depends on him, City Attorney Ron Brown and Mayor Joe Boles; as they work through the details and report back to the full commission who must vote to approve the results before it becomes final.

Regan and his wife Felicia, a teacher at Otis Mason Elementary School, live in Davis Shores. Their son John Jr., a graduate of North Florida University in computer science, works with the PGA Tour, while daughter Michelle is completing landscape architecture studies at the University of Florida.