Sylva officials postpone manager decision until January

By Lynn Hotaling

After interviewing two candidates Monday (Nov. 26) and two Tuesday, town leaders have decided to postpone a decision until the board's January meeting, Mayor Brenda Oliver said Tuesday. Board members also cancelled a special meeting called for Monday, Dec. 3.

This week's closed-session interviews, like two held Nov. 19, were conducted by Oliver and the five current Sylva board members - Audrey Tritt, Maurice Moody, Eldon Cabe, Lynda Sossamon and Norma Lee - plus two elected earlier this month - Eldridge Painter and Danny Allen, who will replace Sossamon and Lee in December.

The two local candidates for manager, Sylva town clerk Tommy Thompson and Sylva Partners in Renewal Director Richard McHargue, were interviewed Nov. 27; the names of the other four finalists remain confidential, though one of the two interviewed Monday is from Topsail Beach.

After the interviews were concluded Tuesday, and board members began to assess the merits of candidates, there was discussion as to which board should vote on the town's first manager, board member Moody said Tuesday afternoon.

"Everybody basically agreed it would be better to wait," he said.

Oliver said Nov. 19 that while both old and new board members would have input into the manager's selection, the five sitting board members would choose a town manager Dec. 3.

Mayor Oliver was unavailable for additional comment.

After identifying seven finalists Sept. 6, board members informally decided to postpone the interview process until after the Nov. 6 town election. One finalist withdrew before being interviewed due to salary constraints, Oliver said.

Town leaders June 7 amended the town's charter to provide for a council-manager form of government, and a portion of the manager's projected $40,000 annual salary is included in the current fiscal year's budget. A maintenance position was eliminated in order to include funding for about one-half of the manager's proposed salary.

Sylva historically has had the mayor-council form of government; a study by a governmental consultant almost two years ago recommended a change to a professional manager.

Another option presented by Maxwell, to formalize the role of the town clerk as town administrator, received little discussion by the board despite the fact that Sylva leaders for a number of years have allowed the clerk to function almost like a manager. The person in that job has historically had supervisory authority and responsibility for implementing decisions made by the board.

As Sylva's clerk, Thompson receives an annual salary of $40,295. The clerk's salary was frozen at that level in June when it was determined that the average town clerk in North Carolina is paid around $25,000 per year.

Back to Archive: 11/29/01.