Mayor Reggie Burgess makes changes to North Charleston’s city staff structure

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess has made some of his first changes within city hall since being sworn in as mayor at the beginning of the month.

The city announced this week that there will be a “significant transformation in its organizational structure,” which they credit to Mayor Burgess. The changes will now group the more than 20 city departments to be overseen by an assistant to the mayor.

For example, Gwen Moultrie, who was the Planning and Zoning Director, will now be a Deputy Assistant to the Mayor. She will oversee the planning and zoning, small business development, procurement, MIS, and GIS departments. Moultrie will work under the Development Assistant to the Mayor, Darbis Briggman, who will report to Mayor Burgess.

Mayor Burgess said this new system provides leadership opportunities and supports growth within city hall.

“What I want to do in my transition — I want to provide them opportunities to lead and guide but then also bring their men and women who actually are working for them – bring them up,” he explained. “If you’re taking care of the people who work for the city of North Charleston, they’re going to take care of the people who we work for.”

Burgess also added that his career in law enforcement helped inspire him to create structure inside the city.

“My thought and maybe it’s my law enforcement background is that we have a policy and procedure, and a process — and that process leads and guides every day,” he said.

According to the organizational structure chart, Mayor Burgess will oversee the courts, as well as the recreation, cultural arts, and senior services departments.