Members of the Roanoke City Council confirmed Thursday that they have been actively discussing City Manager Darlene Burcham's future and could come to a decision as early as Monday during the next council meeting. [related story]

The council is scheduled to hold a closed session to conduct Burcham's annual performance review. Three council members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that as of Thursday afternoon a council majority was prepared to set a date for Burcham to leave city hall -- probably by this fall.

UPDATE (01-June-09): Burcham will retire in March.The decision was made for her by Roanoke City Council members, who on Monday made the announcement after a lengthy closed-door meeting. Council members acknowledged last week that they were considering a fall date for the end to her tenure. [story]

How would you rate Burcham's performance so far? What do you think about the ending of her tenure?

Burcham is certainly no friend to the police department, and the end of her tenure would mean great things for them. It is time for the "better than you" attitude of Darlene Burcham, to go.

 I think that there is a concensus that it is time for her to go.  While there are times when you need to crack a few heads and be the bull in the china shop, you can't do it all the time.  When you hire and manage staff, you have to let them do the job you hired them to do.  I've never been a fan of micro-managing or abrasive styles of management.  To read more about my reasons for supporting her departure from City Hall, please visit my blog Off K Street at http://offkstreet.blogspot.com/2009/05/roanoke-city-manager-could-be-on-her.html. 

Barry Butler - Off K Street

On the whole I think Darlene Burcham has been great for Roanoke.  The city has come a long way in the ten years she has been here.  I'm sure she's not perfect (who is?) but on balance she's a progressive force and I'd hate to see her go. 

  Ms. Burcham must go!! She has tried to turn our nice City into a North Va. style City through adversarial methods..Harrassing property owners through over zealous Code enforcement and forced compliance instead of a "were in in it together attitude".Threats instead of cooperation.We need to return to the kinder gentler Roanoke that was when Mr Herbert was our City manager.We must be sure however that when or if she is fired..we do not replace her with someone just like her.We really need someone from here..who understands what Roanoke is and was..People from say Northern Va..or out of State dont really understand about our market area ,old buildings etc..Sort of like the Stadium issue,if you never went to a game there,or never went to the City Market as they were coming up you dont really understand why the Stadium and Market have sentimental value beyond their dollar value.

   Its time for a fresh start for Roanoke!!

The city manager is not the problem.  The weak city councilmen have held the city back more than anyone.  Roanoke was a tired town with nothing happening and Burcham stirred things up and moved it along when no one else was able to make anything happen.  It is the city council that needs to go.

 Darlene Burcham was different for Roanoke. She showed the "local yokels" that Roanoke had potential and it needed to spend money. I'm afraid the "power elite" in this City were never comfortable with change. They feel the City is spending too much money on attracting business and not enough on them. In this economic recession I can understand their feelings about her. Another big problem for Darlene is that the press hates her, namely the Roanoke Times and the Roanoker magazine. I think she will be forced out. I guess if Mayor Bowers has a choice he would pick Elmer Hodge. I can now see Roanoke going back to a backwater town like before she came. Do we really want to go backward again?

Ms. Burcham's conduct,and style has been out rageous.She is not a very good at her job.I say "Good Bye" and don't look back! 

With regards to performance, Darlene Burcham is the most brilliant, progressive City Manager in the history of the City of Roanoke.  As a native Roanoker for over a half of century, I feel she has brought Roanoke the recognition deserved as a major player in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  She is open-minded allowing new and different ideas to be brought to the forefront in an effort to bring about positive change, a necessity in Roanoke for all facets of continued economic growth.

As a former employee of the City of Roanoke, Darlene was always approachable, a good listener and worked tirelessly (and still does) to help resolve issues to benefit the citizens of Roanoke.

I've observed those individuals not necessarily fond of Mrs. Burcham.  They are individuals resistant to change, intimidated by women (especially women successful in making good things happen) and have no concept of our current City Manager and the positive impact she makes on Roanoke.  These individuals are judgmental, and for lack of a better word, ignorant.  For those never leaving the Roanoke Valley, traveling to other destinations, Roanoke and Darlene Burcham are always referred to with the utmost respect.  I attended a conference last week in Atlanta. The City of Roanoke and the quality of life offered was mentioned 3X to the audience of over 100 individuals from areas throughout the southeast.  The greenways, the historic Farmer's Market, the downtown residential living, the industry, the proximity to major cities within a days drive.  All kudos Roanokers can be proud of thanks to Ms. Burcham's forward thinking.  People from other areas are thrilled when they hear you are from Roanoke and enthusiastically want to hear more about the great things going on.

City managers, town managers or county administrators, no matter where they reign, are continuously criticized.  I have personally never been at the realm trying to please 90,000+ individuals all at one time, but I believe it would be a difficult and thankless job.  How many of you have tried it?

I would hope council would not end Burcham's tenure.  The energy spent on this process could be used more positively around other more critical initiatives to include raising more funds through private/public partnerships for our schools....figuring out a way to keep our kids in school and eliminating the 50% dropout rate.  Helping to educate these future employees of our local businesses and community leaders of Roanoke.

Why not continue in the positive mode we're in, eliminate the negative energy (esp. that displayed through local publications) hurting us rather than  moving us forward and be done with it.  Any individual brought in to replace the current City Manager would have a timely learning curve (holding up progression while we're moving forward) and again, a style not suitable to all 90,000+ citizens or all council members.  

 Ignorance is bliss!  The Roanoker magazine did a story on "can you say"  FACTS, which has nothing to do with hates her. She is what she is and she did what she did. It's about time all of roankie got with it and solved the problems. Bye Darlene. Will this be the 2nd city she has been run out of?  Mayor Bowers is not one of my favorite people but I'd like to see him keep his word and see to it that she goes! Some people just can't accept a change now can they?

...Not to mention the outrageous amount of money that she is paid to parade around, being the Queen of Roanoke. Remember the Performance for Pay junk? When the reviews were turned in and the score was too high, they were rejected and sent back to have a lower score put on them. She didn't want to pay for the good performance. She doesn't stay in touch with the "lower class" employees, which is something that makes for a positive work environment. She only talks with the Chief, the head honcho, or those in her immediate area. 4 or more officers / firefighters or similar needed positions, could be filled for the amount of salary she is getting, and think of the money saved in fixing city cars that she constantly wrecks! She may be forward thinking, but she forgets the ones that she stands on to get to her throne.

The governor's salary is $175,000 which is about $75,000 more than what he is worth. So please explain how in hell that a City Manager is worth $173,658.68? I think maybe its time to go over all of the cities elected officials salaries and see where we need to be making cuts. How dare you pompous asses talk about cutting teachers pay, jobs & closing schools when it should of been you that take cuts up to & including your postions. Time for Bowers, Darlene and all of City Council to move on.

Meg stated..."The council is scheduled to hold a closed session to conduct Burcham's annual performance review. Three council members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that as of Thursday afternoon a council majority was prepared to set a date for Burcham to leave city hall -- probably by this fall."

Hey Meg, in my opinion, Ms. Burcham has had ample time, to put her imprint on the Roanoke turf. Many, myself included, feel there is much to be gained, and not much to lose, if she were to move on, or move out, and let Roanoke evolve under new management. Whether intended or not, worthy of criticism or not, she has been a less than stellar leader to the fine folks in Roanoke, and the Valley. Lastly, as to the 3 people on council speaking out against her anonymously, I say "step up, or shut up". The behind closed door meeting is Monday, do they not see a problem with their lip flapping ways? Gip

fruiliit:

With regards to performance, Darlene Burcham is the most brilliant, progressive City Manager in the history of the City of Roanoke.

Nice try, Darlene.  I mean, fruiliit.

Ms. Burcham is a real pro, nationally and state recognized. She has brought a passion for good government to Roanoke, been a very good citizen resident and is noted for her truth telling. That's exactly what a good city manager does. It's the Roanoke political system which has strained to be consistent, honest and balanced. Hopefully, people will think deeply about this decision and not let unnamed sources on Council or blogs dominate the discussion.