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Franklin City Manager Amanda C. Jarratt submitted her resignation Thursday, Feb. 1, and it will become effective March 26. She has been hired as a deputy city manager for Virginia Beach, the largest city in the state.

A Friday, Feb. 2, news release from the city of Virginia Beach noted that Jarratt’s hire is the culmination of a nationwide search. She will be overseeing four city departments: Agriculture, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Economic Development, and Planning and Community Development.

“Amanda brings diversified experience in planning, economic development and management for the public sector,” Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney said in the release. “She is the ideal choice to oversee our Economic Vitality portfolio of departments and has the leadership and professional demeanor we are seeking to work effectively with department directors and the community.”

In the release, Jarratt stated, “I am honored to be selected as deputy city manager for such a dynamic city. The city of Franklin is a wonderful city, and it’s been a privilege to serve and lead. I am thrilled to join city staff and the community of Virginia Beach and look forward to continued growth opportunities and successes.”

She will begin work in Virginia Beach on April 4.

Up until March 26, however, she plans to remain quite busy serving Franklin, particularly as budget season is underway.

“I’m committed to leaving the city in the best position possible, so I’ll be working with the mayor and council on a transition plan and then work to get the budget as close to finished as possible,” she said.

Franklin Mayor Robert “Bobby” Cutchins said, “I’m extremely grateful for the leadership Amanda Jarratt has given the city. I’ve watched her grow and develop over the past 10, 12 years professionally in the city of Franklin.

“However, a new opportunity has emerged for her, and it’s with a heavy heart that we receive her resignation,” he said. “She has added much value to the city, and I’m grateful for the support and tireless efforts she has provided. I wish her and her children much happiness and continued success.”

Jarratt, who grew up in Windsor, has served extensively in the Franklin community from 2006-24, working in different roles with the city and with Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. during that time.

When she first got out of graduate school, she served as Franklin’s city planner, working in that role from 2006-08. 

She was promoted to deputy director of Community Development for the city in 2008 and served in that role until 2009, when she left to go to Roanoke Rapids for a time.

After she returned, she worked as FSEDI’s manager of marketing from May 2011-March 2012, and then she was promoted at that point to president and CEO of FSEDI. She held that role until January 2019 when she started what has become a five-year tenure as Franklin’s city manager.

She noted that the people and the 240 employees of the city of Franklin are what she has enjoyed most about her time as city manager.

“The employees are really an incredible team and working to (create) solutions for the citizens has been wonderful,” she said. “We’ve navigated a global pandemic, a microburst, an explosion, hurricanes, plane crash, and navigating those things successfully as a lead team and with the City Council has definitely been some of our most trying times but a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community.”

Cutchins said the Franklin City Council will likely meet in closed session on its next meeting date to discuss the next steps the city will take with regard to the city manager position.

“I’m looking forward to meeting with council, get their thoughts, share mine,” he said.