Former top cop now city assistant manager

By Lisa Brody

Former Birmingham Police Chief Mark Clemence has a new gig in retirement – as the new assistant manager for the city of Birmingham.

Clemence retired from the department in early January after 38 years with the Birmingham Police Department, at the time stating he was planning to spend time with his wife, Alison, his three children and new grandson. However, retirement was fleeting, as he was asked to become the interim Human Resources Director in March by new city manager Jana Ecker, and he accepted.

More recently, Clemence was appointed to the position, along with Melissa Fairbairn, of assistant city manager. “There are now two assistant city managers, him and Melissa,” Ecker said. “It was in the budget to allow for two, and they are both permanent positions.”

Ecker said that as she has moved from assistant city manager to city manager, she has been building her own team at city hall. She is very pleased to have Clemence on that team.

“He is very good with people, he is very good with writing, and is good with people around the community,” she noted. “I think we have a great team.”