Leadership battle looms over City Hall

The July 19 meeting of the City of Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen resumed a tug-of-war over unresolved issues, including hiring and management practices, since they took their seats in office a year ago.

At issue was Mayor Sharon Gipson’s recommendations for hiring or advancing 20 people on the agenda.

Back in the board room for the third time was candidate Kevin Gaulding, who the mayor recommended for position of general laborer in the building and grounds department.

Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel made a statement about the mayor’s hiring process and his concerns about the workplace.

He said he was reluctant to vote on so many candidates the mayor presented for jobs, but his concerns in no way reflected on the candidates themselves.

“I am concerned about people leaving, people being hired over other more qualified people,” Teel said. “I have nothing against any people on this list. Our turnover is so outrageous. It is not the people, it’s the culture. We have constantly hired and we get calls weekly of people leaving.”

Gipson deflected Teel’s statements.

“What we are doing with culture, we are doing things more streamlined,” she said.

She said every employee is treated the same.

“Yes, the culture has changed,” she said. “No longer does it matter who you are connected to. We make it where it is the same for everybody. We are demanding people actually work to get paid. It is fair to all employees, not to certain groups. The culture is changing, alderman Teel, for the better.”

Alderman Dexter Shipp asked if department heads were present at the meeting.

Gipson said Building and Grounds supervisor Anitria Jefferies was not present but had been consulted on two of her recommendations for hire.

She called for a motion on hiring Gaulding and got no motion.

Gipson expressed a desire to hold all recommendations.

Shipp argued against it.

“We need to go straignt down the list,” Shipp said. “The rest of us are ready to vote.”

Gipson suggested skipping on down the list and holding some recommendations.

She called a recess.

She and Shipp went into a private conference.

Attorney John Perry said two people can talk in a recess session.

When Shipp came out of the conference room, Perry went in to speak with Gipson and talked for 10 to 15 minutes.

Xavian Shipp was then brought up for a position but no action was taken.

Charles Campbell then was brought up for a positon in the street department as geneneral laborer. Shipp made a motion to offer Campbell the job but got no second.

Perry advised the board that further discussion of Campbell’s credentials probably should be taken into executive session, if matters of a personal nature were to be discussed.

“There are a lot of good people here tonight who deserve to be hired,” Shipp said. “Go to the next item. If you make it you make it. If you don’t, move on.

“At this rate, we’re never going to hire anybody.”

Gipson said some of her recommended hires were on the agenda for the third time. Campbell was on his fourth trip before the board, she said.

Forthwith, Shipp made a motion to go into executive session to discuss the budget concerns related to hiring and Jones seconded. The board went into closed session and decided to go into executive session. Aldermen and the mayor were in executive session for about an hour.

Coming out of executive session, Gipson said no motions were acted upon during executive session.

She then announced she would hold 20 people who were recommended for employment or promotions.

The following positions were listed on the agenda:

• Anthony Mayfield, general laborer, building and grounds.

• Kevin Gaulding, general laborer, building and grounds.

• Xavian Shipp, general laborer, building and grounds.

• Charles Campbell, street department.

• Courtney Boyd, street department.

• Dustin Johnson, apprentice lineman.

• Calvin Jeffries, apprentice lineman.

• Kelvontae A. Talley, apprentice lineman.

• Sean Eason, groundsman.

• Marquez Ford, general laborer, street department.

• Donnell Tucker, gas serviceman, utility department.

• Eyvonne Jordan Tucker, part-time fireman.

• Nikita Taylor, part-time fireman.

• Corey K. Jeffries, general laborer, water/wastewater division.

• Cornelius Jenkins, general laborer, gas division.

• Betty Jane Newsom, supervisor, billing.

• Atrice Mason, administrative assistant to general manager, HSUD.

• Pansy Huey, transfer to administrative assistant to electric superintendent manager.

• Jackie Falkner, mail clerk/telephone operator supervisor, HSUD.

• Bonnie Raimey Nunnally, customer services, new services clerk, HSUD.

• Latosha Faulkner, customer service liason, HSUD.

• Jaqueline Sellers Hampton, customer service teller/cashier, HSUD.

• Tyren R. Williams, customer service teller/cashier.

• Javoz Lashon Rucker, customer service telephone operator.