BP names aide as chief of staff
Transportation director
assumes post that was vacant since Molinaro took office 2 years ago
Staten Island Advance - May 5, 2004
Borough President James P. Molinaro has elevated a
top cabinet member to become his new chief of staff.
Meagan Devereaux, 33, the Borough Hall
transportation director, will take over the post, which has been
vacant since Molinaro took office in January 2002.
“With her wealth of experience, I couldn’t think of
anyone better suited for chief of staff,” Molinaro said.
Ms. Devereaux, a New Dorp resident, began working at
Borough Hall in 1994, and has also served as special assistant to
the borough president, director of community boards and
environmental specialist and health liaison.
“I’m very surprised,” Ms. Devereaux said. “But very
happily so. It’s a real honor to know that Jim has this faith in
me.”
She will maintain her $56,628 a year salary until
the 2005 budget year, when Molinaro said he will increase it. She
will also keep her desk in the Borough Hall “bullpen” area outside
Molinaro’s office.
While continuing to focus on transportation,
environmental and other issues, Ms. Devereaux also will oversee
staff to ensure that Molinaro’s decisions and policies are
implemented. She will report to executive assistant Edward Burke and
administrative manager Lillian Lagazzo.
“She’ll bring ideas to me,” said Molinaro. “And
she’s vocal in cabinet meetings. She fits the bill.”
Daniel Donovan was Borough Hall chief of staff until
being named deputy borough president in 2002. He left the staff
after being elected district attorney last year, making the need for
a chief of staff more pressing, according to Molinaro.
I wanted somebody like me,” Molinaro said in
explaining the choice. “Someone who wouldn’t be afraid to do
something other than what a job description calls for. I found that
in Meagan. I’ve seen her grow. She knows the players outside the
office.”
Said Ms. Devereaux, “Both of us really enjoy our
jobs. The next couple of years are going to be very exciting on
Staten Island. I’m glad I’m going to be at the forefront of that.”
Molinaro said he informed his cabinet of the
decision at a meeting Monday, and planned to let the rest of the
staff know via memo yesterday.
“No one in the office doesn’t like her,” Molinaro
said. “But they know they can’t take advantage of her.”
Molinaro remains without a deputy borough president
and has no timeline for naming one.
Ms. Devereaux was born in Alberta, Canada, and
graduated from Indiana University in Pennsylvania with a degree in
environmental health, with a concentration in safety science and a
minor in biology. She received a master’s degree in environmental
science from the College of Staten Island, and is an adjunct
professor in its environmental science master’s program.
During her tenure at Borough Hall, Ms. Devereaux has
focused on environmental issues such as the Fresh Kills landfill and
West Nile virus surveillance. She also serves on the Borough Hall
Traffic Task Force, and has been involved with home port
redevelopment and the city Growth Management Task Force.
She lives with her husband, Steven, and 2-year-old
daughter, Isabell.
by Tom Wrobleski
Reprinted here with permission from the
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