The loss of Winder city administrator Bob Beck was keenly felt this week as the Winder City Council met for the first time since his April 27 death.
Mayor Chip Thompson at Monday night’s council work session struggled to retain not only his composure as he talked about the loss, but also his own power after council newcomer Bob Dixon challenged the mayor’s statement that he would be the one to select the new administrator with advice from the council.
Dixon immediately demanded that the entire governing body be directly involved in selecting Beck’s replacement.
“Mr. Mayor, I’m going to say this,” Dixon said. “I fully expect the council to be involved in this search.”
He said he appreciated the fact that the mayor would be the “point person” in filling the vacancy, but he said he personally plans to interview each of the final candidates at least three times.
As the City of Winder continues to mourn the loss of administrator Bob Beck, disagreements about the process of hiring a replacement have already begun.
Thompson, Dixon clash over hiring process
“This position hopefully could be a 20- or 30-year deal, so we are looking at our future,” Dixon said. “So this has got to be something where the council has to be involved.”
Dixon also addressed the position’s salary.
“We’ve got to approve the salary range, because the current one is extremely too high and I think everybody agrees with that,” Dixon said.
Beck earned $128,128 annually.
Thompson, obviously wanting to have the conversation out of earshot of the public, was initially reserved in his responses to Dixon’s challenge of his authority.
“I do plan to seek advice from council, but the option of choosing is the mayor’s prerogative on that,” he said steadily.
Dixon retorted: “Mr. Mayor, I’m sorry but that is not just your decision. That’s not just your decision, Mayor. The council and the mayor run this city and the council has as much power as you do and we’re going to get this right.”
Bristling, Thompson said: “We are going to get it right. I have full faith in that. And I will be listening and we will discuss the whole thing at a later date and get it right.”
DIXON WANTS CLOSED MEETING
The meeting proceeded as planned, until just before the agenda’s final item, which was a presentation of the 2010 water and wastewater service rate study.
Turning to city attorney John Stell, Dixon asked if the council could meet in an executive session to discuss the salary and procedure for selecting the new city administrator.
“When we discuss the criteria for a job opening and a number of things pertaining to that, does that not qualify for an executive session?” Dixon asked.
“No, sir, it has to be open,” Stell said.
“When you get down to your last 2-3 candidates and interview them and deliberate over your final selection, that can be done in executive session.”
Dixon then proposed that the council amend the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting to include a discussion about the hiring of a new city administrator.
“Because this is too important and we don’t want another month to go by if we have some difference of opinion, because it has to be advertised,” Dixon said.
Councilman David Maynard asked Dixon if he anticipated voting on the matter Tuesday night.
Dixon responded, “We need to give some direction to the mayor, for instance on the salary range.”
Dixon noted that he personally has a lot of experience advertising for and interviewing job candidates.
“Right now, (the mayor) is under one opinion and some of us have a different opinion,” Dixon said.
MAYOR FIGHTS BACK
As the council discussed whether to take up the issue immediately, the mayor spoke up.
“I said we were going to take our time about this and it seems you are in a rush.”
Dixon responded, “No, what we are trying to determine is how we are going to do this.”
He said the city was going to be entering into the selection process for the city administrator and there appeared to be a difference of opinion about how to proceed.
The mayor, becoming visibly angry, said: “We do have a difference of opinion as to when and where things should be said and done. Things like this need to be talked about in my office.”
Dixon said what he wanted was an executive session, but noted that he is not an attorney.
“I think the salary range is important.”
Councilman Sonny Morris added, “I don’t know where to do it, but we are going to have to have a salary and a salary range.”
Thompson answered, “That is true, if you will be patient. I had intentions of taking some time and I explained that. I’m going to take a look at other cities and at the Carl Vinson Institute guidelines and bring those things to you.”
When Dixon noted that the mayor had not explained that earlier, Thompson responded: “You are not listening then. I did say that to you in my office, that we are going to do this in a professional manner…”
He accused Dixon of trying to take control.
“That is exactly what is happening. You are really overstepping your bounds.”
Dixon said he just wanted to address the position’s salary range immediately.
“Not tonight,” Thompson responded. “It will be discussed. It will be a range, not a particular salary.”
Dixon said he had been involved in hiring many times and is “certainly aware it will be a range.” He told the mayor he was not trying to disagree with him.
Then he added: “We play a role in this too and that role is going to be carried out, so you have to adjust to that. The council is running the city with the mayor now.”
Thompson retorted, “The council is already running the city with this mayor.”
The mayor said nobody on the council ever had been turned away from meeting with him in his office.
Dixon said, “I have been a professional all my life and have a great deal of experience. I plan to handle this in a very professional way.”
Councilman Ridley Parrish added, “Well I’ll handle this professionally with you, Bob, but let’s do it the right way.”
At the beginning of Tuesday night’s business meeting, Councilman Charlie Eberhart prayed for divine intervention as the city copes with the loss of the city administrator. He noted in his prayer that “we can disagree, but we shouldn’t be disagreeable.”
Thompson said city clerk Sabrina Wall would handle all calls to the city administrator’s office until Beck’s replacement is found.
Dixon also addressed the position’s salary.
“We’ve got to approve the salary range, because the current one is extremely too high and I think everybody agrees with that,” Dixon said.
Beck earned $128,128 annually.
Thompson, obviously wanting to have the conversation out of earshot of the public, was initially reserved in his responses to Dixon’s challenge of his authority.
“I do plan to seek advice from council, but the option of choosing is the mayor’s prerogative on that,” he said steadily.
Dixon retorted: “Mr. Mayor, I’m sorry but that is not just your decision. That’s not just your decision, Mayor. The council and the mayor run this city and the council has as much power as you do and we’re going to get this right.”
Bristling, Thompson said: “We are going to get it right. I have full faith in that. And I will be listening and we will discuss the whole thing at a later date and get it right.”
DIXON WANTS CLOSED MEETING
The meeting proceeded as planned, until just before the agenda’s final item, which was a presentation of the 2010 water and wastewater service rate study.
Turning to city attorney John Stell, Dixon asked if the council could meet in an executive session to discuss the salary and procedure for selecting the new city administrator.
“When we discuss the criteria for a job opening and a number of things pertaining to that, does that not qualify for an executive session?” Dixon asked.
“No, sir, it has to be open,” Stell said.
“When you get down to your last 2-3 candidates and interview them and deliberate over your final selection, that can be done in executive session.”
Dixon then proposed that the council amend the agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting to include a discussion about the hiring of a new city administrator.
“Because this is too important and we don’t want another month to go by if we have some difference of opinion, because it has to be advertised,” Dixon said.
Councilman David Maynard asked Dixon if he anticipated voting on the matter Tuesday night.
Dixon responded, “We need to give some direction to the mayor, for instance on the salary range.”
Dixon noted that he personally has a lot of experience advertising for and interviewing job candidates.
“Right now, (the mayor) is under one opinion and some of us have a different opinion,” Dixon said.
MAYOR FIGHTS BACK
As the council discussed whether to take up the issue immediately, the mayor spoke up.
“I said we were going to take our time about this and it seems you are in a rush.”
Dixon responded, “No, what we are trying to determine is how we are going to do this.”
He said the city was going to be entering into the selection process for the city administrator and there appeared to be a difference of opinion about how to proceed.
The mayor, becoming visibly angry, said: “We do have a difference of opinion as to when and where things should be said and done. Things like this need to be talked about in my office.”
Dixon said what he wanted was an executive session, but noted that he is not an attorney.
“I think the salary range is important.”
Councilman Sonny Morris added, “I don’t know where to do it, but we are going to have to have a salary and a salary range.”
Thompson answered, “That is true, if you will be patient. I had intentions of taking some time and I explained that. I’m going to take a look at other cities and at the Carl Vinson Institute guidelines and bring those things to you.”
When Dixon noted that the mayor had not explained that earlier, Thompson responded: “You are not listening then. I did say that to you in my office, that we are going to do this in a professional manner…”
He accused Dixon of trying to take control.
“That is exactly what is happening. You are really overstepping your bounds.”
Dixon said he just wanted to address the position’s salary range immediately.
“Not tonight,” Thompson responded. “It will be discussed. It will be a range, not a particular salary.”
Dixon said he had been involved in hiring many times and is “certainly aware it will be a range.” He told the mayor he was not trying to disagree with him.
Then he added: “We play a role in this too and that role is going to be carried out, so you have to adjust to that. The council is running the city with the mayor now.”
Thompson retorted, “The council is already running the city with this mayor.”
The mayor said nobody on the council ever had been turned away from meeting with him in his office.
Dixon said, “I have been a professional all my life and have a great deal of experience. I plan to handle this in a very professional way.”
Councilman Ridley Parrish added, “Well I’ll handle this professionally with you, Bob, but let’s do it the right way.”
At the beginning of Tuesday night’s business meeting, Councilman Charlie Eberhart prayed for divine intervention as the city copes with the loss of the city administrator. He noted in his prayer that “we can disagree, but we shouldn’t be disagreeable.”
Thompson said city clerk Sabrina Wall would handle all calls to the city administrator’s office until Beck’s replacement is found.
Or take junkets
Or have parades
Or have festivals
Or, Or, Or,
The list goes on