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CHITWOOD APPOINTED COUNTY CONTROLLER

By LEDYARD KING, Staff Writer

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Walter N. Chitwood III, one of County Executive Robert R. Neall's most trusted advisers, has been appointed the new county controller.

Mr. Chitwood, who served as controller during the mid-1980s, replaces Joseph N. Burrows, one of the last officials appointed by former county executive O. James Lighthizer to serve under Mr. Neall. He takes over the post on May 1 and will be paid between $69,000 and $85,000 a year.

As the county's chief financial officer, the controller handles bill payments, conducts financial reviews of county agencies, oversees investment of county funds and handles the sale of bonds used for construction projects.

Despite general praise of Mr. Burrows' performance, the New England native's tenure was tainted by his 1989 arrest and conviction on marijuana possession.

Some department heads privately expressed surprise that Mr. Burrows had worked this long for Mr. Neall, the state's first drug czar.

But administration spokeswoman Louise L. Hayman said there was no tension between the two.

"Bobby thought Joe had done a good job," she said. "I don't think there was an open conflict. He wouldn't have been here that long if there was."

Mr. Neall was effusive in his praise of Mr. Chitwood.

"I can think of no other veteran of county government with a broader range of management skills than Walter Chitwood," Mr. Neall said in a statement released yesterday.

Mr. Chitwood has served as assistant to the county executive for the 15 months Mr. Neall has been in office. Prior to that he was assistant central services officer {1987-91}, controller {1983-86}, and assistant to then-county executive Robert A. Pascal {1974-83}.

"Joe's run a pretty decent ship," Mr. Chitwood said last night. "I'd like to build on what he's done."

Mr. Burrows was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

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