mskutnick posted on November 01, 2011 11:19
In a called meeting held Saturday morning, Harrisburg Town Council named three individuals – two staffers and one Council member – to share interim town administrator responsibilities, following the official decision not to renew the contract of former administrator Michele Reapsmith.
Following a motion by Councilwoman Rhonda Poppen, Council voted 6-0 to not renew Reapsmith's contract, specifying Oct. 31, 2011 as her last day of pay with the Town of Harrisburg. Reapsmith's final day as administrator was Oct. 24; Council voted that evening to not require her to perform any further administrator duties following that date.
On Saturday, Council also voted 6-0 to appoint Finance Director Lee Connor, Public Works Director Todd Taylor and Councilman Chad Baucom to the shared interim roles, each overseeing specific Town departments. Per Council’s decision, Connor will oversee the Town’s administration department as well as planning and zoning; Taylor will undertake the interim administrator roles of his own public works department and parks and recreation; and Baucom will supervise the Harrisburg Fire Department in the interim.
In both action items, Councilman Bob Scaggs voted via phone conference call. Councilman Steve Sciascia was absent from the meeting and the vote, although he joined the conference call during the nearly two-hour closed-session personnel discussion that began the meeting and preceded the public session votes.
Town Council did not address a specific time frame for seeking a new administrator. However, Councilman Bill Williams expressed his hope that, as four incumbents move off Council in the weeks ahead and new faces fill those seats, former and new members can meet and discuss the town administrator position.
Mayor Tim Hagler announced a 5:30 p.m. pre-meeting on Nov. 14 – prior to Town Council's next scheduled meeting, held at 7 p.m. that evening at Town Hall – for that purpose. He said he hopes the “round table” pre-meeting will provide a venue for discussion among current Council members and the four individuals who will be elected on Nov. 8.