City of Reidsville Press Release – Release Date November 13, 2014

Pearce to retire as Reidsville City Manager

Reidsville City Manager Michael J. Pearce announced Wednesday to the Mayor and City Council that he intends to retire on February 1, 2015.

Pearce has been City Manager since February 1, 2011 when longtime Manager D. Kelly Almond retired. Prior to that Pearce had served as Reidsville’s Director of Community Development since 1992. Pearce was initially the City Manager on an interim basis as the City Council went through a nationwide search for a permanent manager; however, it soon became evident that the Council was comfortable working with Pearce and named him City Manager in June, 2011.

Then-Mayor James Festerman said at that time, “The Council has been extremely impressed with Mr. Pearce’s ability to handle his duties as interim manager. Several instances have occurred in the past five months that have been highly unusual, and Mr. Pearce has responded with diligence, evenhandedness and creativity.”

Pearce, 62, came to Reidsville in March of 1992 to work as Director of Planning and Code Enforcement, a title that would be changed to Director of Community Development in 1994. From 1976 until 1992, he worked for the City of Cumberland, Maryland, where he served in various planning positions with his last job there as Director of Community Development.

In his position as Reidsville’s Director of Community Development, Pearce oversaw the construction of the Holiday Loop Water Tank, the Reidsville Industrial Park, the Jaycee Park and Sherwood Drive Greenway Trails, the North End Pump Station, Market Square, Kelly’s Way and other downtown improvements.

During his tenure as City Manager, the City replaced the spillway at Lake Reidsville and engaged in the planning and rehabilitation of both the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Water Treatment Plant in response to water quality issues. Pearce also guided the City through negotiations with Eden and Rockingham County to create a consolidated 911 emergency call system. Pearce was also manager when the Confederate Monument in the downtown traffic circle was knocked down after being hit by a van and worked with the Daughters of the Confederacy to have the monument and new statue erected in Greenview Cemetery. Pearce also oversaw the conversion of the City’s Utility systems from a private contract to City employees. He was very proud of the wellness program that the City started for City employees and retirees which led the City to hire a part-time wellness coach. Under his administration, the City also rehabbed the City gymnasium and fitness center and will soon be bidding out the job of constructing a new Senior Center on Washington Avenue.

Having spent over 38 years in public service, Pearce is amazed by how fast the time has gone.

“Sixteen years in Cumberland and almost 23 here in Reidsville have been an incredible opportunity for me and my family. I will always be grateful to Kelly Almond for hiring me and allowing me to grow in this job. To be able to serve this wonderful City as manager these past four years, while extremely challenging, was a very satisfying way to end my career. The people of Reidsville have always been so kind, generous and supportive of me. It is hard to find the words to convey my appreciation, and I will always be humbled by how they welcomed me. I know I’m going to miss the comradery and daily friendship of the City employees and am so thankful to them as well for how hard they all worked and supported me throughout my years in Reidsville,” Pearce said.

“Michael Pearce has been an exemplary City Manager to work with,” said Mayor Jay Donecker. “He really hit the ground running and accomplished a lot during the four years he served as Manager, not to mention his wonderful career here while in the Community Development Department. He has truly shown he has had the best interests of Reidsville and its citizens at heart. We thank him for his service, but he will be missed. However, with the leadership team he has assembled and the succession plan Council has agreed upon, our City is in good hands until his replacement is selected.

“We wish all the best for Michael as he begins the next chapter in his life,” the Mayor said.

Pearce received his B.S. Degree in Urban Geography from Frostburg State College in Frostburg, Maryland in 1976. He earned his M.S. Degree in Management from Frostburg in 1981.

A member of the Reidsville Rotary Club, he is married to Rita Pearce, a retired teacher in the Exceptional Children program at Rockingham County High School. He and Rita hope to enjoy golf, tennis, traveling and spending more time with their six grandchildren.

City officials have agreed to begin a nationwide search for Pearce’s replacement immediately.