|
|
||
Robert Clark watched Stafford County grow from 80 employees to more than 800 Date published: 4/6/2005
ROBERT CLARK, Stafford County's human resources director, remembers when there was one traffic light in town, less than 100 county employees and a copier machine was considered high tech. That's because he's been with the county for about 27 years. But last week, employees had to say goodbye to Clark, 53, who is retiring for medical reasons. Staffers threw a 1950s party for him, many of them dressed in '50s attire in honor of Clark's passion for the era of poodle skirts, leather jackets and vintage cars. Employees say Clark will be missed, and Clark says the feeling is mutual. "It's been enjoyable for me to watch this county grow," Clark said. "It's been a hell of a ride." When Clark first came onboard as head of central accounting and personnel, the county employed 70 people. "You knew everything about everybody," he said. "It was a tight-knit family." He remembers working in the basement of the old courthouse building, which had, at one time, been a jail. "We called it the dungeon," he says. "We had manual typewriters and carbon paper. It was pretty primitive, and when we got a copier machine, I thought things couldn't possibly get any better." Now there are computers everywhere, federal and state regulations galore, a separate department for accounting and another for personnel. Oh, yeah--and more than 800 people working for the county, making it the one of the largest employers in Stafford, just behind GEICO and the Stafford County Public Schools. "We've grown just a tad," he said. Nowadays employees don't all know each other, and people don't hang around as long as Clark. The average life span for an employee is five years, and the pay ranges from $20,000 to $110,000. Clark says the county has been able to be particular in its hiring practices because its pay is competitive, and family health benefits are free. There have been very few labor grievances and lawsuits in the almost 30 years since Clark has been there, and he says it's because of equitable and centralized disciplinary practices. Clark hopes that continues after he leaves, but county officials have not yet decided whether to replace Clark. Thoughts are afoot to consolidate personnel offices with the school system. Clark says his health condition, made worse by a quadruple bypass, is forcing him to alleviate the stress in life. But that doesn't mean he'll be sitting around doing nothing. He says he plans to help a community of Amish in southern Maryland. "I really enjoy being around them," he says. Clark has a passion for horses and has been buying harness equipment and carriages from the Amish. Now he would like to help them by driving them to Lancaster so they can visit friends. Traditionally, Amish people do not drive. "I want to help them and get to know them better," he says. To reach JODI BIZAR: 374-5000, ext. 5627 jbizar@freelancestar.com
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
|
|
|||||||||||||
