Wednesday, February 16, 2000
Woodlawn manager quits
Friction with council cited by some
BY SARA J. BENNETT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
WOODLAWN — Carole Cornelison, the village's manager of three years, resigned Tuesday.
Mrs. Cornelison is credited by many with helping spark development in this suburban village northwest of Cincinnati. As word of her resignation spread, some residents and business leaders reacted with disappointment.
“Carole's presence marked a milestone in the village that brought a great bit of development and progress,” said Steve Bove, a resident and member of Woodlawn's Community Investment Corporation. “Her leaving creates a void that's going to be difficult to fill, and it creates the appearance of uncertainty that won't be received well by businesses and developers.”
Like her predecessor in the manager's job, Mrs. Cornelison had a tense relationship with Woodlawn's elected officials. Council put her on probation last month, saying she conducted business such as hiring village employees and contractors without council approval.
Vice Mayor Johnnie Rabb denied that elected officials drove Mrs. Cornelison away.
“I thought that was resolved, I really did,” she said. “She sent us a letter (after her probation) thanking us for retaining her and saying she looked forward to working with us.”
Few details were available about Mrs. Cornelison's departure Tuesday. In her resignation letter, she said her job had been “a growth experience, and it has given me a chance to serve and add value to a community with a bright future.” She could not be reached for further comment.
Council appointed as acting manager Marjie Dogan, the village's parks and recreation director. A search for a new manager will begin immediately, Law Director Louis Lausche said.
Mrs. Cornelison was hired in December 1996, after Lucius Ware resigned the manager's job, citing difficulty with council and the mayor.
Mrs. Cornelison is a former management consultant who taught history at the University of Cincinnati.
During her tenure as manager, several new developments came to Woodlawn. They include apartments, a Kroger store and an office complex. The village also is working to rezone its main thoroughfare, Springfield Pike, into a unified downtown district to attract more development.
Although Mrs. Cornelison's resignation was unwelcome news to some, it wasn't a surprise.
Crawford James, a longtime resident and supporter of Mrs. Cornelison, said he thought her troubles stemmed from the politics and personal vendettas of people who envied her abilities.
“When she took two weeks of vacation after they put her on probation, I told a couple of council people that I hoped she would use the time to pass out her resume,” Mr. James said. “Why should an individual make themselves subject to so much ignorance when she could take her talents somewhere where they're appreciated?”
Andrew Radin of Neyer Properties, which just completed a Trane building on Springfield Pike, said he was disappointed to see Mrs. Cor nelison leave.
“She had a vision, and she pursued it,” he said.
But that zeal may have created tension, said Dave Ashley, a Cornelison supporter who often is outspoken on village issues.
“The lady really has the know-how to get things done, but she didn't know much about government,” Mr. Ashley said. “She tried to run the village like a business.”
Mark Jackson, a businessman who lost a bid to unseat Mayor Susan Upton Farley in the November election, said he hoped Mrs. Cornelison's departure would prompt more residents to question the way elected officials run the village.
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