Page 9 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Introducing Wayne’s new city manager

By Sarah Shurge glad I’ll have the opportunity to work the ad, I researched the city and I
The city of Wayne is excited to an- with him.” thought there was a great alignment
nounce its new city manager, Diane On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, between Wayne’s challenges and my
Webb. the council selected Webb as the new skill sets, and that there were excit-
Effective Thursday, August 31, city manager. ing opportunities there.”
2023, Lisa Nocerini resigned as “It felt fantastic to be selected,” Webb is coming into this position
Wayne city manager after eight years said Webb. “I really liked the inter- with a game-plan ready.
of serving the community. view process and I appreciated the “Priority one is to learn the cul-
“I know Lisa and I know she did opportunity to talk to the depart- ture of the community and how the
a phenomenal job,” said Webb. “She ment head. They shine a light on is- city operates internally, and then as-
did a lot of heavy lifting and she sues in an operational way that I'm similate my style into their culture,”
helped get things moving in the right used to. That made a big difference said Webb.
direction, but there is still a lot of to me and made me even more ex- She is also excited to work with
work to be done. I know I have big cited about the job.” the Wayne Downtown Development
shoes to fill and I’m looking forward As city manager, Webb, and the Authority (DDA).
to the challenge.” department head will be working “We’ve got a great director with
On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, closely together. Lori Gouin,” said Webb. “There’s
the city council voted 7-0 in favor of “I’m very encouraged by the qual- great groundwork for us to do some
Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong ity of the team. You can tell they're really fun things.”
being interim city manager. The very invested in the community and Most importantly, Webb is ready
council also agreed to hire the Michi- Diane Webb selected as Wayne’s next dedicated to their jobs,” said Webb. to serve the people of Wayne.
gan Municipal League to do a search City Manager pending council approval Webb has a long and diverse ca- “We’re going to be looking for peo-
for a new city manager. of her employment agreement. reer that has centered around the ple’s input. That is a vital part in the
During a meeting Tuesday, De- city of Wayne. solutions and growth,” said Webb.
cember 5, 2023, the city council nar- ond round of interviews with the “I’ve been plugged into Wayne for “What is their vision for Wayne? What
rowed down the candidates from three finalists. most of my career,” said Webb. “My do they love about it and how would
seven to the final three: Chief Strong, “I think the competition was first job was in Wayne and hopefully they like to see it grow or improve?”
Ken Marten, and Webb. The council tough,” said Webb. “I really have a lot my last job will be in Wayne. I’ve Webb stated she will have an
voted unanimously to conduct a sec- of respect for the police chief and I’m come full circle. All roads keep lead- open door and be holding forums,
ing me back to Wayne.” probably monthly, with the commu-
For the first 18 years of her ca- nity.
reer, Webb worked in the private sec- “Everything we do, we’re doing for
tor. She was a technician in Wayne, them. So it's important they have an
she did customer service manage- opportunity to give input,” said
ment, project management, and com- Webb.
munity relations. Webb was born and raised in Gar-
“The private sector prepared me den City. She has a 23 year old son,
for public service,” said Webb. parents aged 88 and 90 years old
Webb served four years as a city that have been together for 71 years.
councilwoman in Garden City, 11 “I love the people in Wayne.
years on Wayne County Commission, They’re down-to-earth, hard-work-
and did government relations with ing people,” said Webb. “I feel com-
Wayne representatives. fortable there and I’m thrilled to
“The city manager job is a culmi- work there.”
nation of everything I've ever done Welcome Webb as Wayne’s new
with jobs,” said Webb. “When I saw city manager!

The Wayne Dispatch · January 2024 · 9