Aldermen stands firm on hiring

For a third meeting in a row the Holly Springs board of aldermen has insisted on playing their legal role in governance.

Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones pressed the mayor Sharon Gipson on who established concrete and drainage as divisions in public works

He raised the question when item 17 on the agenda was brought up dealing with the utility budget in the concrete and drainage divisions.

Gipson asked to fill three positions in concrete and three in drainage at the base rate of $15.50/hour.

“My only thing with this is not with people we hire, but we (the board) didn’t establish the divisions,” Jones said.

Gipson said the departments were there but positions were not established. The number of employees were not specified.

Jones asked to table the measure until the next board meeting to give aldermen more time to get information, “to feel more comfortable in voting.”

Gipson asked for specific objections saying she already has people on the list.

Jones asked for a copy of these division budgets.

Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather weighed in.

“So, again, this item, I couldn't get the attachments open to add (see) these positions in drainage,” Merriweather said.

“Madam, Mayor, you have elaborated and based on what attorney Perry said, we can go through the agenda.

Gipson said the concrete and drainage divisions were under the department of public works. She said she wants to reflect that the positions are there.

“A motion to table this to the next meeting is on the floor as well,” Jones said.

“I’ll second that,” Merriweather said.

The motion to table passed 4-0 with Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel absent due to illness.

Gipson brought Kelvin Gaulding Sr. before the board for a third straight meeting to get a vote on hiring him as a general laborer in the buildings and grounds division at $15.50 an hour.

Merriweather asked if these were new positions or vacant ones.

“Open,” Gipson said.

Alderman-At-Large Dexter Shipp asked if the department head was present in the room.

Gipson said she had talked with her (supervisor Anitria Jeffries) and asked if she had any concerns and also talked to her about Mr. Mayfield, also on the agenda to hire in buildings and grounds.

Merriweather asked if there is money in the budget for the recommendations in each department. There were 13 persons on the agenda Gipson wanted to hire.

Gipson said there was money in the budget for the 13 listed.

“Do supervisors see their budgets on a day-to-day basis?” Jones asked. Gipson said she checks with the city clerk to make sure money is in the budget.

“I am not sure what to do at this point,” Gipson said. “I provided the board as to the vacancies in the departments. I keep bringing them up because there is more work to do. The guys we have cannot do it (the work) with what we have alone (number of employees).”

She said the city needs painters, construction workers, and architects.

Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain spoke next.

“Mayor, I would like to object,” she said.

Fountain wanted to hire a person for Human Resources first then consider the next steps in the hiring process including making background checks.

“We have vetted these people as well as HR,” Gipson said. “I wish I had known this was your pleasure before having these people come out (before the mayor and board). I did not want to have all these individuals standing here today in the same circumstances. We are losing some great people. The city attorney agreed a background check should not be made until a person is offered the job.”

Other than those six in concrete and drainage, Gipson said she had four people up for hire in the electric department and two in gas, people who would help get customers get their utilities turned on faster.

Gipson then asked to hold the motions for the 13 prospective employees.

Fountain asked if it is fair to take all the others off just because the mayor didn’t get a motion to hire Gaulding, the first person on her list of recommendations for hire.

Gipson said it made no sense to go through the rest.

“I prefer we vote,” Shipp said.

Gipson said she put all on hold because Fountain questioned having HR involved.

“If some person doesn’t make it (get hired), that does not mean everybody may not make it,” Shipp said.

Gipson said all responses to her motions would be the same. She wants answers as to “how to move it forward.”

Jones said the agenda items come from the mayor and then she holds items.

“In my opinion it is at the discretion of the board to hold them,” Jones said.

He said it is the pleasure of the board to hire and not the mayor.

He said it seemed some board members wanted to hire certain people that night.

Gipson said she disagrees with Jones that she does not have the right to make up the agenda.

“This is the third meeting with bringing these individuals up,” Gipson said.

She said Jones questions were not about Gaulding but what positions were open ones.

She said the board had the agenda emailed to them on Saturday prior to the Tuesday night meeting.

“These are the exact same applicants, Mr. Jones. They did go through the same process whether or not we have an HR person or not. We lost the HR person we had.

“I just don’t know what to do other than ask the employees to pray. To do some (take some recommendations up) and not the others takes away the veracity of what you are asking.”

“It is just how the (hiring) process is working,” Jones said. “We do not know where you are coming from. When we had an HR person you did not utilize the person.”

“You make lots of statements that are purely your opinion,“ Gipson said. “It is your opinion this is based on.”

“The mayor does not control the agenda,” Jones continued. “The mayor presides over the meeting. It’s been customary the mayor puts items on the agenda. It is not all or nothing, if we take action on a guy or take no action.

“We (the board) have the right to vote on these or to table them. The majority rules as far as aldermen. Attorney Perry, can you talk on this so we can move on?”

Fountain said she was not in agreement with holding up everyone because Gaulding’s name was on the agenda first to hire.

“My stand tonight, is the same stand I’ve been on since day one, is that every person goes through a process and then information is brought before the board that someone has vetted the candidate,” Merriweather said. “I would like to feel comfortable with the candidates I am being asked to vote for. If the supervisor has vetted a candidate, they should come before us and say why. This board is responsible for who we say yea to.

Merriweather said she had not agreed with the hiring process from day one.

“For 32 years (as a school administrator), I have hired and there has been a vetting process because I am responsible for those who I have vetted. I am just speaking from my laboratory of experience,” said Merriweather.

Gipson said the process she uses is the same process Rust College has used. The mayor said she interviews the candidates and checks their references.

“And they don’t....,” she said.” “I can tell you about Rust College. I went to three interviews first and in that interview process I went to the dean,” Merriweather said. Jones ask Perry if the board the board has a right to hold any item on the agenda. Perry said that once the agenda is adopted, the board has a right to motion and second or to motion to table. “You may want to hold something for a reason,” Perry said. “There is no requirement for a motion,” he said.

“As far as a person can say, I think these (positions) need to be acted upon. It’s however the board sees fit.”

Gipson asked Perry to see a copy of the state statute backing up his opinion.

“Madam, Mayor, you have elaborated and based on what attorney Perry said, we can go through it. The agenda has been adopted,” Jones said.

“I, still as mayor, say I have the right to hold (all her recommendations),” Gipson said.

“And I disagree,” Jones said.

Merriweather said the issue of concern is the process of how hiring is done.

“From what I’m hearing the mayor says she’s stuck on her way. And we are saying no,” Merriweather said. “The concern is the process. I understand the debate on the floor. My concern is for the process whether it is the HR (position) or a lineman. All we are asking for is evidence. Evidence can dictate that the candidate has been fairly vetted and interviewed.”

“I would like to interject, the agenda has been adopted and the motion we consider items 19-30 (the other hirees) is up for approval tonight.”

Milton Hubbard, a new resident of Holly Springs said Gaulding, who was still standing before the board, needed to be considered for the job.

“Others (candidates) got up and walked out. He needs to be considered for the job,” he said.

Perry said the board has the right to take action individually on each employee up for hire.

“It needs to be moved and seconded,” Perry said. “If the agenda is adopted, each item is supposed to get separate consideration.”

Gipson said her way has been done for a year, that as the mayor she has the right. She said she will do her own research (on state statute).

“I don’t agree with your opinion,” she said. “The rules have to stay the same.” Forthwith, Fountain made a motion to hold items 18-30 until the next board meeting. The motion passed 4-0 with Teel being absent.