MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Memphis Mayor A C Wharton said improving efficiency is behind his move to bring three divisions of Memphis city government under one umbrella, and placing Janet Hooks in charge.
A city council committee approved the mayor's consolidation plan, but one council member isn't supportive of the idea.
Memphis City Councilman Joe Brown isn't sold on the idea to consolidate several divisions within city government. Those divisions are Parks, Community Enhancement, and Public Services and Neighborhoods.
"That's too many divisions coming together for a good delivery of services; we're combining but can we deliver?" Brown asked. "I think that's a tremendous amount of work load on one Director to combine all these divisions."
Wharton's plan has one person who's supposed to lead what will now be known as the Parks and Neighborhoods Division - Janet Hooks.
While Brown stated he had no problem with Hooks being a director, he added "there's just so much a human being can do… It's just too much for one person."
Councilman Brown may not have a problem with Hooks' appointment but many people do. Hooks has been criticized because of the way she handled the operation of the Memphis Animal Shelter while in her role as Director of Public Services.
"You have to look at the entirety of what she's had to do," said Mayor Wharton. "Anybody who was over animal shelter is going to be criticized."
Wharton said Hooks is more than capable of doing a good job, and used the vehicle inspection stations as an example.
"If you look at the broad span of what she was in charge of… think back to the long lines at the vehicle inspection stations, have you seen that lately?"
The full 13-member Memphis City Council still has to vote on all the division director appointments, including Hooks, in two weeks.
