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After a closed session that lasted more than two hours, Suffolk City Council appointed Maria Skinner to be the interim real estate assessor following the announcement of Jean Jackson’s retirement.

Currently a residential appraiser supervisor in the assessor’s office, Skinner will serve as the interim city assessor beginning Nov. 1 at a salary of $80,848.45 following a unanimous council vote at an Oct. 26 special meeting.

Skinner, born and raised in the city, has been serving with the city assessor’s office since August 1988. Since 2009, she has served as the residential appraiser supervisor. Skinner earned her bachelor’s degree in business information systems from Virginia State University, and has completed courses with the International Association of Assessing Officers, having been an IAAO member and Virginia Association of Assessing Officers member for more than 22 years.

Jackson recently notified council of her retirement, and her duties are being handled by the deputy assessor while Jackson is on leave.

Jackson had been the city assessor for more than nine years. Council in April 2011 unanimously appointed her as interim city assessor before about four months later appointing her, again unanimously, to be the official assessor. She had served on the Board of Equalization from 2005 until she was appointed to be the city assessor.

The assessor’s office is charged with discovering, listing and valuing all real property in the city and has a budget of about $1.86 million.