City Manager Greg Usry retired on Friday, issuing his final report to the City Council days earlier and reflecting on his tenure.
Usry publicly thanked City Hall staff and department heads for their support and teamwork during his more than five-year tenure, citing their numerous accomplishments regarding public safety, capital projects, and technology.
“I thank the council members, both this council and the past, for an awful lot of support,” he said during the March 26 City Council meeting. “This job at times is hard and being able to rely on decision makers to be supportive, publicly and privately, is tremendously important.”
Throughout Usry’s tenure, the city added several senior staff and undergone leadership transitions, expanded the fire department, resurfaced roads, and renovated city facilities. During the pandemic, Usry shifted largely all City Hall functions to remote and created a number of new initiatives.
One initiative the city took on was updating branding for their website, business cards, presentations, and press releases.
“This community is impressive, this city government is impressive. … If you look at our business cards, if you look at our presentations, if you look at the way our website looks, it’s all by design, it all ties together to reflect the stature that we are,” Usry said.
The move was “small” in nature comparatively speaking, but in Usury’s estimation, every bit as important.
“It’s serious, it’s important, people pay a lot of money in taxes and we want to reflect that,” he said.
Democratic Councilman Josh Nathan, a Democrat who is running for mayor, delivered congratulatory remarks on behalf of state Assemblyman Steve Otis, former Councilwoman Lori Fontanes and state Sen. Shelley Mayer.
“The first word that comes to mind when I think of you is integrity,” Nathan told Usry. “Your integrity is outstanding. You have always been a straight shooter with me, the community, the council, no matter what the issue [is] and I so value that. “It has made serving with you a pleasure.”
Usry took on the interim city manager role in 2019 after chairing the city’s Finance Committee for two years.
He oversaw the city during the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida which devastated Rye in 2021, the year his role became permanent.
“Six years later, after … some very bruising moments, I am confident to say that Rye was lucky to have you, not just for the work you did that made the news, but for all the work you did strengthening the day to day functioning of our city and always trying to do the best by your staff,” Democratic Councilwoman Jamie Jensen said.
Brian Shea was appointed as Usry’s interim replacement in March, following his retirement announcement in December. There is an ongoing search for his permanent replacement.
“You’ve been the ultimate public servant. You’ve been a great leader and mentor for our really great city employees, you’ve provided wisdom, candid feedback and sage advice for all of us on the city council,” said Republican Councilman Bill Henderson, who is also running for mayor this year. “You’ve been a great listener and responsive to all of our citizens, a very important part of the job and not an easy one.”
