By Susan Vela
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BLUE ASH - Bruce Henry, Blue Ash's deputy city manager and safety director, resigned this week after serving the city for more than two decades.

Marvin Thompson, the city manager, said Henry, 50, has talked for years about doing some consulting work and recently committed to taking the plunge.

Henry, a resident of Symmes Township, will leave an annual salary of $107,000. He had been overseeing the city's police and fire departments, which employ about 65 workers.

Thompson will decide within the next month how to handle his departure.

"Bruce did lot of good things for the city," Thompson said. "He was a hard worker."

He praised Henry for his work with the police and fire departments and his role as the administrative head of Blue Ash Revitalization Inc., a nonprofit community group. Henry also coordinated Taste of Blue Ash, a popular annual event that draws more than 200,000 food and music lovers a year.

Thompson said probably will advertise for an assistant city manager, who would be paid about $75,000.

The ideal candidates, he said, will have several years' experience as a top city administrator or administrator's assistant.