Board balks at list of appointments

The Holly Springs city board meeting January 4 was recessed after aldermen objected to the process of a long list of 108 appointments presented by Mayor Sharon Gipson for approval.

Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel was first to object to going through the list of motions to appoint.

“People are sitting at home wondering if they are on the agenda,” Teel said. “It’s chaos. If somebody is doing their job or there is no indication they have not gotten along with their coworkers....You gave us the agenda at 7 o’clock last night.”

Gipson said most people are going back to their current positions with the same pay and have been doing their jobs. Some have made themselves invisible, she said.

Gipson said she is performing her duties as mayor as the statutes require. Some individuals would be moved from one position into another (transferred).

Gipson said she has looked at the strengths and weaknesses of each employee.

“It’s about who is going to serve best the City of Holly Springs,” she said. “Most people you see, even though they have been moved, I have left the salaries the same. This is not about individual employees. It’s about who is going to best serve the city. I don’t own this seat that I’m in, just like you didn’t when they elected all of us.”

Gipson said as far as her recommendations, it is something she has the legal right to do.

She said no changes were made in the fire or police department positions.

“With some of these major employees, we made sure everything was being finalized,” the mayor said.

She said she has discussed the positions with the employees.

Teel responded.

“There’s people at home you’ve already talked with and they are sitting at home wondering if this board is going...it’s backward. It’s putting the cart before the horse,” he said.

“No, it’s not putting the cart before the horse, it’s just recommendations,” Gipson said. “If the board doesn’t approve this....”

“That can’t be the law that if we don’t vote on this tonight they are out of a job,” Teel said. “That’s not right.”

“Mr. City Attorney, is that right?” asked Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather.

Attorney John Perry said the law states if they are not appointed the city will not be able to pay the employee after 180 days.

“A mayor can present a slate to retain all the holdovers like in a summary, if a motion to approve as presented,” he said. “Technically, at the time of an election all positions are vacated.”

“It’s January 4 and you are telling me they will not get paid?” Merriweather asked.

“It’s 187 days since July 1,” said Teel. “Can the board vote (now?).” “The law says you have to appoint within 180 days,” Perry said. “Their holdover status stops, if not acted on by the board immediately.” Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain asked if the board could appoint those listed in one vote.

Perry said some holdover positions are put back at the same pay rate, others get pay increases, and others are transferred to other positions.

“What about those ones not on the list?” Fountain asked.

“If they are not on the list they are not going to be recommended to reappoint them,” Gipson said.

“In terms of transfers and new hires, we need to see resumes and them going through HR,” Merriweather said. “Those who are remaining in positions, I’m for them remaining and being paid.

“I’ve looked in to this and it has never been done by a board in Holly Springs,” Teel said.

“We received this at 7:51 last night (Monday, Jan. 3),” Merriweather said. “I’m not understanding. Are you moving Yolanda Carter from HR to receiving? I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m not understanding where there are new positions.”

Gipson called for a recess to speak with city clerk Jerrica Jones and Perry behind closed doors.

Returning to her seat, Gipson asked board members if they could recess the meeting and aldermen checked their schedules.

Perry said putting off the actions until the next week would not be going too far.

“Keeping it close. This is breaking close to 180 days,” he said.

Merriweather asked the board take action on those on the list who would be appointed to their same positions at the same pay rate.

“No,” said Gipson. “It would confuse me.”

The board then passed a motion to recess until January 10 at 5 p.m. And it passed 4-0 with Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones not in attendance.

The board took up the appointment matters at the recessed meeting January 10 at 5 p.m.