Another Berkeley department head to retire

Andrew Clough is retiring after eight years running the Public Works department. Photo: Emilie Raguso

Another longtime city employee has announced plans to leave Berkeley, according to a memo to the Berkeley City Council from the city manager posted online Wednesday.

Andrew Clough, who has helped run the city’s Public Works Department for eight years — first as deputy director and then, since 2011, as director — is retiring and will be replaced by Deputy Public Works Director Phil Harrington, “effective immediately,” wrote City Manager Christine Daniel to the council in the July 22 memo.

Clough’s is the fifth departure this year of high-profile leaders in the city.

In March, Jane Micallef, who ran the city’s Health, Housing and Community Services division, announced she would be leaving in May after 19 years of public service. She had run the division for seven years. The city later appointed Kelly Wallace to run the division while it conducted a national search.

One week after Micallef’s news, the city announced that IT director Donna Lasala would be leaving Berkeley after 16 years, effective Aug. 4. The city credited Lasala with her efforts related to its 311 call center and the IT Master Plan, as well as those related to efficiency and transparency in city operations. No replacement has been announced, according to the information posted online.

Berkeley Police Capt. Erik Upson left to become police chief in Benicia in April. Upson had worked for the city for 17 years, his entire career to that point.

On June 2, City Manager Christine Daniel announced she would leave, after working for the city for 15 years, to serve as assistant city administrator in Oakland. Last week, the Berkeley City Council appointed Dee Williams-Ridley, who was hired in January, as interim city manager. Daniel’s last day is Friday, July 24.

Last year also saw the departures of longtime employee William Rogers, deputy city manager, and Bob Hicks, the city’s finance director. Daniel reportedly took on Hicks’ job after his departure. No replacement has been announced for that role.

It has been reported that other department heads are also planning to leave this year. The city did not respond prior to publication to a request for additional information.

Unlike the other departures this year, Clough does not appear to be staying on beyond his announced retirement.

In a memo from Daniel about Clough’s exit and what’s to come, she described the accomplishments of Harrington, who has been deputy Public Works director since 2012.

Harrington graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s in civil engineering and, according to the memo, has more than 34 years of experience in municipal engineering, with a specialty in design, construction and operations management.

Prior to his hire by the city of Berkeley, Harrington worked for the city of Antioch as its Public Works director. There, he developed and oversaw the city’s five-year capital improvements program.

“We thank Andrew for his service to the community and wish him the best on his next chapter,” Daniel wrote. “Please join me in welcoming Phil to this new role with the City of Berkeley.”

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Emilie Raguso