EXTRA: Town Planner Rob Testerman Resigns

Town Planner Rob Testerman

Town Planner Testerman

By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

October 21, 2014

Two working days after Cape Charles Town Council shot down the “urban chicken” concept, the brainchild behind the proposal, Town Planner Rob Testerman, submitted his resignation.

Mayor George Proto told the Wave that he learned yesterday (Monday) that Testerman was leaving to accept a “better” job with supervisory authority. Proto stressed that Testerman’s departure is on very amicable terms — the town has been very happy with his work over the past year, the mayor said.

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Whether Testerman’s decision to quit was influenced by Town Council’s rejection of his chicken proposal may never be known. Testerman was reluctant to divulge his plans to the Wave before having the opportunity to personally inform his colleagues on Wednesday that he was leaving. He was unaware that the job opening had been posted on the town website within hours of his letter of resignation. No notice was even given to members of Town Council before the job opening was posted.

Applications for the position of town planner are due November 14, and Mayor Proto said he hoped a new planner could be hired by the time Testerman leaves in December.

Testerman began working for the town in July 2013. Previously he was the land use planner for Accomack County for six years.

Testerman is the third ranking town employee to resign this year. The two other employees are former town manager Heather Arcos, who resigned in September to work for her father, and former treasurer Kim Coates, who resigned in January, citing overwork.

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7 Responses to “EXTRA: Town Planner Rob Testerman Resigns”

  1. Scott Walker Jr on October 22nd, 2014 8:20 am

    Please refrain from speculating on why he resigned. Just report the facts and let others speculate offline.

  2. Rob Testerman on October 22nd, 2014 8:36 am

    After returning home from a full day of work, followed by a Historic District Review Board meeting, I had planned to relax for a couple of hours before calling it a night. Those plans changed when the Wave began calling. Unfortunately for me, these calls between 8:30 and 9:15 p.m. on my personal cell phone woke my 4 month old son, so my evening did not go as planned.

    I did ask that Mr. Southern hold off on posting anything until midday today (Oct 22) in order for me to speak with my coworkers first. I would have preferred that my news come from me, but as I was informed via text message “the news cannot wait” (not that I consider my departure breaking news). I was already aware that the town had begun advertising the position, but figured my colleagues probably hadn’t seen it, as they likely don’t check town job advertisements regularly.

    One thing I would like to make very clear is that the outcome of the great chicken debate had no bearing on my decision, whatsoever. I would not necessarily say that I am leaving for a “better job”, as that implies that being Town Planner for Cape Charles has not been a good job, it very much has. I am leaving because I have been offered an opportunity to advance my planning career, better provide for my newly expanded family, in an area that I have wanted to live since I was a kid.

    I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Cape Charles, I have made many great friends in the office, as well as in the Town, that I will surely miss when I am gone. In that sense, my departure is somewhat bittersweet, but at this stage in my life and career, this decision is what is best for me and my family.

    GEORGE SOUTHERN RESPONDS — I was also “awakened” last night from a planned winter hibernation when the town sent me and hundreds of other subscribers an email announcing your job opening. In little Cape Charles, resignation of a ranking official is indeed “breaking news.” There is also the human interest angle, so after you tell your colleagues, please write again to let town residents know where you are moving and what your job will be.

    My multiple calls to you were because we played phone tag: I called you but you were on another line; you called me back but I was talking to Mayor Proto and didn’t answer. Mayor Proto urged me to talk to you, so then I tried again and left a voice mail, and then one more time just before publication. You then texted me, providing the scant information I reported.

    Here’s some advice from a father of four children (all born in the days of landlines): keep your personal cell phone (paid for by town taxpayers by the way) away from sleeping babes! And best of luck in your new job in your dream location.

  3. David Gay on October 22nd, 2014 9:28 am

    Good luck Rob on your new adventure. You have proven yourself to be a hard working and detail-oriented Town Planner. You will be missed at the Historic District Review Board meetings.

  4. Deborah Bender on October 22nd, 2014 9:54 am

    This town never had a town planner until Tom Bonadeo (who was the head of the Planning Commission) got his way to create a full-time position. We only have around 990 full-time residents. There are no town planners anywhere in a small town like this. Maybe the town should forget about a full-time planner and use the money to pay down the ever rising debt. We have way too many employees as it is.

    Let the Planning Commission handle the planning of the town. They are a capable group of people.

  5. William Dize on October 23rd, 2014 8:51 am

    Deborah, you might consider checking the books before posting. Tom was number 3 and Rob is number 4 since I have been here (April 1, 2005).

  6. Jeff Walker on October 24th, 2014 9:41 am

    Sounds like the vote was a nonissue. To have a job two days after the Council vote leads me to think it was probably in the works prior to the vote, especially if it is another position in the public sector (which we don’t know if it’s public or private). Public sector jobs normally have advertising requirements, etc. Even two days for a private sector job is unusually fast.

    As to the phone dustup, just because a phone is taxpayer funded it doesn’t mean it should be called after certain hours for nonemergency purposes. Even government employees deserve courtesy during their time off.

    Thanks for your service, Mr. Testerman and good luck in your new position.

  7. Karen Reed Lowe on November 17th, 2014 9:05 pm

    I was very disappointed to learn that the Town Council defeated the “urban chicken” concept which is sweeping the nation and gaining acceptance in many small towns like CC. One of the things that appealed to us when we began our house hunt in this area of the Eastern Shore, landing us in Cape Charles, was The New Roots Youth Garden. I remarked to my husband that a town that supports a project to teach the local children from where their food comes, and how to work to supply food to others has GOT TO BE an enlightened community, and one in which I would like to retire.

    The house that we purchased happened to have a huge double-lot yard, and there sitting prettily in it was a beautiful, custom-made chicken coop with three little hens in it. That garden and its potential clinched the deal for me! We made the contract contingent upon the chicken yard/coop conveying with the property. It was a dream come true when we got the ratified contract. Then upon meeting some neighbors as we moved in, we learned that we could not keep our chickens there. I was disappointed in my newly adopted small town.

    The concept of a household being allowed to raise their own fresh, organic eggs is a no-brainer. Hopefully Cape Charles will embrace the idea in the future and join the list of many, many small towns who encourage a modicum of self-sufficiency and the right to enjoy healthy eating!