The city`s fourth planning director in five years began work last week in what Mayor William Ottilie said he hoped would be the beginning of the end of the position`s revolving-door history.
Ottilie`s appointment of Michael Donahue, former director of planning for the Greater Rockford Airport Authority, was approved several weeks ago. Donahue moved into his office Wednesday.
Donahue replaces Jill Humphrey, who quit on Aug. 14 after a year. Ottilie said Donahue`s three immediate predecessors were not Geneva natives and had difficulty with the ”politics of the situation.”
”I think Mike Donahue, being a Geneva native, will be very cognizant of how to deal with the different factions involved in development,” Ottilie said.
Donahue said his top priorities will be commercial development along Randall Road, a new zoning ordinance and development in east Geneva.
