Top official in Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke's administration leaving after six months

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke's head of day-to-day operations is leaving after six months on the job, the Times Free Press has learned.

News of Andrew Kean's departure from City Hall comes days before the City Council is expected to consider spending $100,000 on a consulting firm to implement the city's budget, which formerly was Kean's job.

Kean, Berke's chief operating officer, will return to the private sector.

Councilman Larry Grohn questioned the move, which he says reflects poorly on the performance of the Berke administration.

"We still don't have [the budget] right and now we're going to have to spend 100,000 to get it right?" Grohn asked. "Are we having to spend this money because Mr. Kean couldn't handle it?"

Read more in tomorrow's Times Free Press.