Archived News

GPC President Tricoli steps down    

Georgia Perimeter College president Dr. Anthony Tricoli has resigned, according to the University System of Georgia.

Hank Huckaby, chancellor of the university system, announced this week that Tricoli has resigned following the discovery of an approximately $16 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2012 at GPC. Huckaby cited the need for “a fresh approach” as the reason Tricoli has stepped down.

The chancellor stated that GPC had already taken steps to control spending for the remainder of fiscal year 2012, which ends June 30.  “These steps were expanded when the size of the shortfall was determined.  These steps include curtailing travel, cancelling various encumbrances and purchase orders, delaying hiring and suspending contracts.  In addition, the system will reallocate funds internally and will ensure that GPC will finish FY12 with a balanced budget,” he said in a prepared statement.

“GPC and system staff are preparing a plan to balance FY13 since the underlying shortfall will continue into next fiscal year.  Similar steps as those outlined above will be taken to reduce spending.  We do not know at this time precisely the impact in every budget area, but it will be significant and will likely impact personnel.  These actions are necessary to address a shortfall of this magnitude.  To be clear, tuition and fees will not be increased beyond what the Board of Regents already approved at its April board meeting,” according to the statement.

Huckaby said Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Alan Jackson will serve as acting president until he appoints an interim president, which he expect to do within a few days. 

The sixth president of Georgia Perimeter College, Tricoli was inaugurated as president in 2007.

Clarkston hires its first planning and development manager

 Clarkston City Manager Keith Barker today, May 8, announced the appointment of Jason Gaines as the city’s first planning and development manager.  Gaines comes to Clarkston after seven years with Cobb County government—two years in Cobb’s Community Development Agency and five in the Cobb Department of Transportation.  During his time there, he worked on Cobb’s comprehensive plan and comprehensive transportation plan, oversaw annexation proceedings and serviced delivery agreements with Cobb’s six incorporated cities.

Gaines also worked in Henry County’s Planning and Zoning Department where he was responsible for the review and analysis of zoning requests, sign applications and other day-to-day functions. 

“I was very pleased with our ability to attract over 60 very qualified applicants for this position,” Barker said. “I look forward to working with someone with Mr. Gaines’s experience and background. He will be able to ensure that our permitting, zoning and land use functions are customer focused and will assist in addressing some of our critical community and economic development needs.”

Gaines holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Georgia Tech and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He also is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government management development program. 

DeKalb earns honor for community engagement

DeKalb County’s Office of Neighborhood Empowerment – ONE DeKalb – recently was recognized as the 2012 Civic and Community Engagement Advocate of the Year by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) during its annual conference. 

“ONE DeKalb gives our citizens a seat at the table where decisions about their community are made and unprecedented participation in county government,” said CEO Burrell Ellis. “I am honored that ACCG has recognized our efforts to ensure citizens have a voice in shaping the present and future of our county.”

DeKalb County resident honored as community leader

 DeKalb County resident Tianna K. Bailey was recently a recipient of the 2012 11Alive Community Service Awards hosted by WXIA on May 3.

 Bailey is the founder of IMAGE (I Must Achieve the Goal to Excel), an afterschool program that provides activities, academic assistance, health education, parental involvement sessions and opportunities for exposure to more than 300 school-age children in the Edgewood and Whitefoord communities. She, along with her cousin Maurice Shaffer founded IMAGE in October 2000 with the mission to partner with families and communities to ensure youth have the resources, knowledge, and skills to excel.

Along with nine other community leaders, Bailey was recognized for making a difference in the community.