By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Zach Kyle and Elaney Hasselmann have been promoted by Salisbury City Manager Doug Paris as part of a job merger that will save the city $180,000.
Kyle, the city’s director of human resources, has been promoted to assistant city manager for human relations. Hasselmann will serve as the city’s new public information and communications manager.
“They were the right fit for the organization, and it allowed us to produce some savings for the city, which is always important,” Paris said.
By merging four positions — two were vacant — into new posts filled by Kyle and Hasselmann, Paris said the city will save $180,000 annually.
Paris combined the vacant assistant city manager job with the director of human resources to create Kyle’s new position and merged the vacant public information director with the marketing and community relations manager to create the Hasselmann’s new job.
Before he became city manager, Paris served as assistant city manager. John Sofley remains the assistant city manager for finance.
Karen Wilkinson was the city’s public information officer until her resignation earlier this year.
With more than 30 years of experience in local government with the cities of Galax and Radford, Va., Kyle became Salisbury’s director of human resources in 2009.
“Zack’s service to the city has just been excellent,” Paris said.
Kyle implemented a new classification and compensation plan for employees, updated the employee performance review process, expanded of the Summer Youth Employment program and established a pilot Career Days program for middle school students.
Paris said Kyle’s leadership was instrumental when the city hired Rory Collins as police chief and Mike Jury as Fibrant general manager.
As assistant city manager, Kyle will work more directly with various departments and on special projects with Paris.
“I believe in the culture and values of our organization and am excited and grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to continue serving this great city in my new role,” Kyle said in a press release.
Kyle and his wife, Linda, live in Salisbury and have two children, Kevin and Erin.
Hasselmann, who was the city’s communication manager, stepped up as the interim public information officer, Paris said.
“She exceeded every expectation I had and the management team had,” Paris said.
Hasselmann began her tenure with Salisbury in 2006 as marketing and community relations manager for Salisbury Parks and Recreation. In 2011, she joined the newly created Public Information and Communications Team and has been serving as interim public information officer since December 2011.
She previously served as assistant manager of outreach services for the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition in Delray Beach, Fla.
In Salisbury, Hasselmann facilitated the city’s Gold Level Fit Community Designation and the Parks and Recreation Department’s National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award, which the department qualified as a national finalist for in 2011.
She also coordinates the design and content for the city’s newsletter, launched in June 2011. Paris said Hasselmann led the establishment of the Public Information and Communications Team, which includes oversight of the city’s public information, web and television services.
As the public information and communications manager, Hasselmann will lead the team and continue serving as the city’s public information officer.
“I am honored and thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve the city of Salisbury and am humbled to work with such an amazing team of individuals across the organization and throughout the city of Salisbury,” Hasselmann said.
Hasselmann and her husband, William, live in Salisbury and have one son, Liam.
With her promotion, Hasselmann’s salary goes from $45,000 to $63,000 as she takes on supervision of other city employees, Paris said. In her previous post, Hasselmann did not supervise anyone.
Kyle’s salary remains $94,500.
“Kyle and Hasselmann have provided excellent leadership and management within the city organization and have exceeded every expectation,” Paris said. “I’m delighted that they have accepted these new roles.”
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.