Eddie PhillipsWhen the East Ridge City Council meets tonight, members will discuss how to replace one man. It might take at least three.
Eddie Phillips, 62, announced Monday that he will retire Aug. 2. Right now, he is the interim city manager and the public safety director. In the latter role, he also serves as the city’s police chief, fire chief and administrator of codes enforcement and animal control.
Once retired, Phillips said he intends to work as an insurance agent with his son. He held a similar job for 20 years before joining the city full time in 1993.
With his departure, the council will debate whether to hire a new public safety director or eliminate the job. City officials created the position about 12 years ago to serve as the middleman between the city manager and certain city employees.
Here’s how the chain of command is supposed to work right now: Leaders of the animal control, codes enforcement, fire and police departments report to the public safety director, who reports to the city manager.