After a 10-month vacancy, the city’s planning manager position
will be filled by Mary Haninger Blais.
After a 10-month vacancy, the city’s planning manager position will be filled by Mary Haninger Blais.
Blais begins Monday and will be immediately thrust into action, helping to update the city’s General Plan, according to Bill Card, Community Development director.
“That’s a team project with this division,” said Card, Blais’ supervisor and a former planning manager.
Blais will be responsible for supervising the planning department, which includes a code enforcement officer, an associate planner and other employees.
Salary for the planning manager ranges between $67,300 and $81,400, according to the city Human Resources Department.
Card said the position was budgeted, but the department experienced difficulty in its first recruitment attempt during the fall.
“It has a lot to do with timing,” Card said. “After the holidays, we had more applicants.”
Blais, who most recently worked as a planner in the San Diego area, has two masters degrees – one in public administration and another in city and regional planning. Blais also worked for 12 years as a planning director in Colorado.
Blais could not be reached for comment.
The City Council approved $519,000 in early March for the General Plan update, the first since 1995. The General Plan Steering Committee has met once a month since April.
Since his promotion from planning manager to Community Development director in August, Card has performed duties for both positions.
As Community Development director – one of six city department head positions – Card oversees the planning department, building division and redevelopment agency.
He said he will appreciate the work relief and opportunity to “focus in on the overall management of the three (departments).”
Card also said Blais will be responsible for “working with the public and explaining the mission of the planning division.”
Card said Hollister has a small planning staff compared to other cities of similar size. Gilroy has four planners compared to Hollister’s two, he said.
“I’m really excited about it,” Card said. “I think this person’s going to be a really great asset to the city.”
