The City of Murfreesboro announced Tuesday, Sept. 11 the launch of the fifth and final new division of the reorganization of its administrative structure to enhance customer service. 

The new division, Internal Services Division, incorporates Human Resources, Information Technology, Communications, Purchasing, Fleet Services, and Facilities Management under the direction of Executive Director Paul Boyer. 

“Paul Boyer’s previous experience as a city manager in Columbia and Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Lake Worth, Florida provides the internal operations management expertise needed to effectively oversee this critical division,” said City Manager Craig Tindall. “Paul will also continue to manage the City’s purchasing activities as Purchasing Director.”   

Boyer has served as Purchasing Director for the City of Murfreesboro since June 2016. 

As the principal procurement official, Boyer is responsible for the purchase of all quality equipment, services, and supplies in compliance with state laws and policies. 

Boyer’s purchasing oversight has included working with contractors, vendors and department heads on several large City projects: the new Doug Young Public Safety Training Center, Fire Station No. 4 and No. 11, and the City’s new Southwest School.  

As city manager of Columbia, Boyer oversaw a budget of $60 million with 380 employees and a city population of 33,000, consolidating the planning, engineering, and code enforcement functions into a newly created Department of Development Services.

In Lake Worth, he managed an operating budget of $120 million coupled with a $14.4 million annual capital improvement program.  

Boyer holds a master of science in Public Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Millersville State College in Pennsylvania. Boyer has been a long-time member of the International City/County Management Association. 

Under the newly created Internal Services Division headed by Boyer, Pam Russell will continue as Human Resources Director, Chris Lilly as Director of Information Technology, Alan Bozeman as Communications Director and Jack Hyatt as Director of Fleet Services, and Ron Dennis oversees Facilities Maintenance. 

Committees or Commissions providing oversight of these departments will not be affected.

The process of reorganizing the City’s administrative structure has created five new divisions, plus the existing Police and Fire Rescue departments.

In July, Tindall announced the new Development Services Division with the mission of enhancing the City’s economic development. Sam Huddleston was named executive director of the division.

The Public Works Division, launched in early August and headed by Chris Griffith, focuses on coordination, cooperation, and oversight of infrastructure engineering, the development and maintenance of streets and other municipal projects.

A new Utility Enterprises Division, launched in mid-August and led byDarren Gore, incorporates existing enterprise funds—Water Resources and Electric, as well as departments that will in short order operate as self-sufficient enterprise funds—Solid Waste, and Municipal Airport. 

The Community Services Division, announced in late August headed by Angela Jackson, incorporates the Parks and Recreation Department, Golf Department, Senior Center, Outside Agencies and the development of the City’s arts and cultural activities. In addition to overseeing the City recreational facilities and cultural programs, Community Services will organize budgetary allocation of funds to outside agencies by creating an application process, establishing objectives and performance measurements, and reporting to Council how grants are benefiting the community.

Under the reorganization, 24 City departments report to seven division executive directors, including the police and fire chiefs. 

The new structure shifts authority over operating decisions closer to operations and enhances cost efficiency with the goal of achieving excellent customer service. The new division heads, along with economic development and budget administration, will report directly to City Manager Tindall.  

Chief Michael Bowen and Chief Mark Foulks will continue to lead the Murfreesboro Police and Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue departments.