Bryan Foster Picked By City Council To Serve As Acting City Manager

Press release from the City of Fairfax :

(Jan. 22, 2025) Following a special meeting on Jan. 21 to discuss interviews for city boards and commissions and other personnel matters, the Fairfax City Council unanimously appointed Bryan Foster to serve as acting city manager. Foster was hired through a contract agreement with Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP, a public sector executive recruitment firm. He will begin his new role on Monday, Jan. 27.

Foster has 28 years of local government experience, most recently serving as deputy city manager for the City of Manassas, Va., until early 2024. His breadth of experience includes implementing a new ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, reorganizing and managing Manassas’ capital improvement program, coordinating legislative affairs, and overseeing key operational departments.

Related: Fairfax City Manager Fired By Outgoing City Council

Foster’s previous experience includes serving as director of public utilities for the City of Portsmouth, Va., county administrator for Halifax County, Va., and town manager of Altavista, Va. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Economics from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va.

Related: Fairfax City Official Appointed Roanoke City Manager: Reports

Foster will lead the City of Fairfax through the fiscal year 2026 budgeting process, which is currently underway. The FY 2026 proposed budget presentation is slated for Feb. 25, and the city council will adopt a final budget on May 6 following a series of work sessions and public hearings beginning March 4.

Melanie Zipp will serve as acting deputy city manager, and Chief Financial Officer Juan Carlos Martinez will serve as acting assistant city manager. The mayor and council will determine when to move forward with the recruitment process for the next city manager.

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.