Daniels resigns as Greenfield finance director

Greenfield finance director Karen Daniels has resigned, effectively immediately, according to Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop.

Bishop told The Highland County Press that Daniels handed in her resignation Monday, and spoke with her regarding her decision. Bishop said Daniels did not specify why she was resigning, but indicated it was something she needed to do personally.

Daniels was not immediately reached for comment.

"We had a very good conversation, and I gave her an opportunity twice to take back the resignation, but she said that this was something she had to do under these circumstances," Bishop said. 

Bishop said that Greenfield's budget constraints, coupled with the recent census conversion from a city designation to a village, has been very tough on all employees.

"I understand there is a lot of pressure on everybody. We do not have enough people to do our jobs, and it's a lot of pressure on everybody. We've all been doubling up trying to do it all. I was hoping that we could last through until money became available in order to make some more decisions, but that didn't happen in this case," Bishop said. 

According to Greenfield ordinance, it is up to the city manager to appoint a replacement. Bishop said she will make a recommendation to council during their regular meeting Tuesday for an interim finance director. Greenfield will then advertise for a permanent replacement. The interim appointment, she said, will be internal.

"I have the utmost respect for Karen," Bishop said. "Our feelings for each other is mutual, and when she left today she was very nice to me."

With difficulties ahead for Greenfield according to Bishop, she said that the community and its leaders need to keep pushing forward. 

"When you talk to some economists, some say that we probably won't even notice a change (when the city is officially designated a village) and then others say we might see a drastic change," Bishop said. "We have a lot of people in the community who like to remember Greenfield as a quaint little community, and they have their right to feel that way. There are others that say we have to keep pushing and moving forward."