Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Deborah Barr, shown here with former Pima Town Manager Sean Lewis, has resigned from her position on the Pima Town Council.
Town Clerk Teresa Bigler retires
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The hits keep coming in Pima as two longtime public servants have called it a day.
At the Pima Town Council meeting Tuesday night, Pima Town Manager Vernon Batty advised that council member Deborah Barr had submitted her resignation from the council. The council later unanimously accepted her resignation with its appreciation for her service.
Barr was elected to the Pima Town Council in 2014 but was appointed earlier in October that same year to take former Mayor George Lemen’s council position after he resigned due to health reasons. At that time, acting Mayor Tom Claridge administered the oath.
Current Pima Mayor Dale Rogers had been appointed to the council the year prior to Barr joining, and the pair were both elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He lamented about having Barr to his left for the past eight years and having little things between them like opening her water bottles for her.
“I would just like to take the opportunity to thank her for her service on the council and to our town,” Rogers said. “I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to have to serve with her and learn from her. I just thank her.”
Rogers informed the public that the council will begin taking letters from anyone who is interested in serving out the remainder of Barr’s term – which will be until the end of this year as her seat is up for election in 2022. The letters should be addressed to Mayor Dale Rogers and sent or delivered to Pima Town Hall at 110 W. Center St., Pima, AZ, 85543. Rogers said he hopes the council will have all the letters reviewed by Wednesday, Feb. 16.
“At that point, we would like to bring the people who we have interest in and interview them and select another council person to replace Mrs. Barr . . .” Rogers said.
Bigler retires
At the same meeting, Batty also announced the retirement of Pima Town Clerk Teresa Bigler, who had been with the town for the last 11 years.
“I think on behalf of the council and the town, I’d like to thank you, Teresa,” said council member C.B. Fletcher. “You’ve been a great employee.”
