Longtime Hollister official Clay Lee, who suffered a stroke in 2010 and later returned to his job, is retiring from the city.
Mayor Ignacio Velazquez confirmed Lee will be retiring. A retirement party is scheduled for Saturday. As part of the transition, current Airport/Code Enforcement Director Mike Chambless will oversee public works, the mayor said.
Lee was a parks and recreation division director and later became director of the community services department – which includes public works – when the city consolidated its departments about a decade ago.
Lee, 56, suffered the stroke over Labor Day weekend in 2010. He was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, where further examinations revealed that his right carotid artery had a blockage that stopped the flow of blood to his brain, resulting in the stroke.
He went through physical, occupational and speech therapy weeks after the stroke. He had to learn how to walk again as part of the process, and returned to work in December 2011.
Lee could not be reached immediately.
“He was just ready to retire,” Velazquez said. “He’s done a lot of good work.”
Lee’s last official day on the job is scheduled for next Wednesday, City Manager Bill Avera said.
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