Franklin staffers leaving, paving way for new mayor to hire team

By Ernie Suggs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Less than a month before Shirley Franklin is set to leave office as Atlanta's mayor several members of her senior administrative team are handing in their resignations.

In a memo sent Friday night by Communications Director Beverly Isom, the resignations come “as the new administration prepares to transition into their new leadership role.”

The resignations include:

*Chief Operating Officer Gregory J. Giornelli. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned that Kasim Reed, who will likely become the city’s new mayor, barring a major change in a possible recount next week, is expected to announce that he will make Peter T. Aman his COO. Aman is an Atlanta partner in the international business consulting firm Bain & Co.

*Chief Financial Officer Jim Glass. Current Budget Chief Roosevelt Council Jr. has been appointed acting CFO.

*Commissioner of Public Works Joe Basista.

*City Controller Allison Lehr.

*Policy adviser David Edwards.

*Enterprise Asset Management Director Lisa Gordon.

*Director of the Office of Constituent Services Bobbie Porche.

Those high-level departures come on the heels of the Nov. 25 announcement by Police Chief Richard Pennington and Deputy Police Chief Alan Dreher that they were leaving.

Isom’s memo said that in addition to the resignations, Chief of Staff Gregory Pridgeon and Human Resources Commissioner Benita C. Ransom are retiring.

Franklin has appointed Sherri Dickerson, a senior human resources administrator, as acting commissioner.

Two Cabinet members, Atlanta Fire Rescue Chief Joel Baker and City Attorney Roger Bhandari, are currently serving in acting roles.