Personnel committee nominates Colleen Hamsey as chief of research; approves title change for legislative services manager

Colleen Hamsey, a research assistant in the council's research division, was nominated by the Jacksonville City Council personnel committee to become chief of the research division effective March 8, 2025. The committee also approved a title change to appoint Jessica Denson as assistant chief of Legislative Services.

The committee moved to fill the chief's role after Jeff Clemens, the division's chief of research, said he will retire after 35 1/2 years, with a last day of March 7. Yvonne Mitchell, Chief of Administrative Services, presented Hamsey as the candidate, saying the recommendation seeks "to support continuity of services" and "preserve organizational knowledge." Mitchell identified Hamsey as a research assistant with eight years in the division and said she has staffed standing and special committees and supervised interns.

Jeff Clemens, the…