Erie planning director David Forrest resigns; search for replacement begins
Shortly after being hired as the city of Erie’s planning director in September, David Forrest said he wanted to become a major player in Erie’s revitalization.
Five months later, Forrest has stepped down — and a key position in Mayor Joe Schember’s administration is unfilled for the second time in less than a year.
New city planning director:Philadelphia-area native David Forrest hired
Forrest, 61, the city’s director of planning and neighborhood resources, submitted his two-week notice of resignation on Friday to Renee Lamis, Schember’s chief of staff.
Lamis told the Erie Times-News the city will immediately begin its search for Forrest’s replacement.
"Dave is no longer an active employee, although he will be technically employed and paid through March 10," Lamis said. "We are currently in the process of transferring his responsibilities to others on our team.
“This is a crucial job within the administration, and we have a lot of projects going right now,” Lamis said. “We’ll be posting this job as soon as possible in order to find a replacement.”
Q&A:Erie planning chief David Forrest aims to play 'positive role' in community development
A statement released by the city on Saturday did not cite a reason for Forrest’s resignation. Forrest, who earned $80,000 a year with the city of Erie, did not return a telephone message seeking comment.
A Philadelphia native, Forrest began his job with the city of Erie on Sept. 26.
He replaced Kathy Wyrosdick, who left in May for a private-sector planning job in Harrisburg and had been the city’s planning director since Schember took office in January 2018.
Kathy Wyrosdick's departure:Erie's community revitalization push continues as city seeks new planning director
One of the city planning director's primary duties is overseeing the implementation of Erie Refocused, the city’s comprehensive, multiyear development plan.
Erie Refocused is a blueprint for widespread change in housing, transportation, land use, economic development, neighborhood revitalization and other areas to address decades of decline.
Erie Refocused at 5 years: Comprehensive plan forges belief in 'better days ahead'
"I want to help revitalize Erie," Forrest said in a September interview with the Times-News. "That's been the primary interest throughout my career, going into communities and trying to make them better."
At that time, Forrest admitted that Erie would be the largest municipality he has worked for, and he saw it as a challenge.
"This is (planning) on a lot larger scale than I've done previously. I definitely have my work cut out for me," Forrest said. "I think I'm going to have to spend a lot of time meeting people here, listening and learning. Building relationships will be a high priority for me."
Past experience
Forrest most recently served as planning and zoning coordinator in Douglas County, Nebraska.
He has also worked as a planner with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and as a research associate with the Pennsylvania Economy League.
Previously, Forrest also worked near Philadelphia as assistant borough manager in Pottstown, Montgomery County; as borough manager in Lansdowne, Delaware County; as a municipal administrator in Norristown, Montgomery County; and as a city manager in Canandaigua, New York, about 25 miles southeast of Rochester.
In 2017, Forrest was hired as the first city administrator in the history of Ralston, Nebraska, a community of roughly 6,400 residents.
However, he resigned from that job in 2019, citing an unworkable relationship with city leaders there.
When asked about his tenure in Ralston in a September interview with the Times-News, Forrest said: "I think I wanted to change some things and there was an established culture there. It was difficult and it created some conflict. I'm not saying it was everybody else's fault by any stretch of the imagination. But it was time to part ways."
Lamis has said previously that city officials asked Forrest about Ralston when he was interviewed for Erie planning director's post: "We were aware of it and we're comfortable with what we know about that situation," she said.
In a statement released by Schember's administration, City officials said that Forrest, during his brief time with the city, “helped to update building permit fees; worked with Erie City Council on a new vacant property registration ordinance and created a ‘scope of work' for a project that seeks to improve the 12th Street industrial corridor."
Vacant and foreclosed properties:Erie City Council OKs new registration program
Forrest was also credited with improving “dialogue and cooperation with downtown developers.”
Schember, in a statement, thanked Forrest for his service.
“We’re grateful for Dave’s hard work during his time here,” Schember said. “He has a lot of energy, drive, and determination. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie planning director David Forrest steps down after 5 months on the job
