On Monday night several council members actually taunted Fairfield citizens, lamenting that the citizens are confused and misinformed and blaming them for the problems the county finds itself in. Unbelievable.
If the citizens are confused and misinformed, council only has to look in the mirror to see the wellspring from which the citizens’ confusion and frustration flows. It flows from council’s failed county administrator hiring process and an increasing number of other failed and failing county systems and processes as well.
Council’s drawn-out, unserious “search” for a county administrator was and still is the ultimate example of dereliction of duty by a government body.
The following timeline illustrates just how broken and self-sabotaged their “search” has been.
In January, 2023, Fairfield council hired an interim county administrator whose contract was to expire June 30, 2023. The council knew the target date for hiring a permanent administrator was July 1, 2023.
April, 2023 – After foot-dragging for four months, council sent out requests for recruiting firm applications.
May 1, 2023 – After more foot dragging, council received proposals from six recruiting firms. A panel of three council members were to score the firms and choose one.
July 12, 2023 – Councilwoman Greene submitted her score card.
Aug. 9, 2023 – Councilman Gilbert submitted his score card.
Oct. 9, 2023 – Council Chair Pauley, pressed for a timeline for hiring a recruiting firm, announced his change of mind – that a recruiting firm will be selected within “two weeks.”
Oct. 11, 2023 – Council Chair Pauley submitted a score card.
Oct. 23 – Two weeks later, Pauley announced council will not hire a professional recruiting firm, but will post the job Nov. 1, 2023 on county and SC Association of Counties website.
Nov. 14 – The job is finally posted on the county website with only a 17-day window for applications.
Nov. 17 – The job is finally posted on the S.C. Association of County’s website, leaving only a 14-day application window.
No further efforts were made to advertise for the most important position in the county; neither the county’s free Facebook page nor the County’s newspaper were utilized to reach out for the best candidates to fill the most important position in the county.
Jan. 17, 2023 – After 13 months and myriad problems from mismanagement, a special called meeting resulted in no applicants for administrator being selected by council.
Jan. 22, 2023 – With the administration search process having failed miserably, council voted to appoint the county’s deputy administrator, Synithia Williams, as the new interim administrator, limiting her appointment to “no longer than two weeks”, at which time the council hopes to have appointed a new administrator.
How is this the citizens’ fault?
Randy Bright
Ridgeway