Recommendations for city personnel not approved

The Holly Springs Board of Aldermen denied Mayor Sharon Gipson’s recommendations to hire a supervisor of the street department and an accountant at the utility department.

Mayor Gipson brought Curtis J. Fitts, who said he has experience in supervising streets in Collierville, Tenn., a second time. Aldermen did not make a motion to hire Fitts at the November 2 meeting, and his name was on the agenda again for the November 16 meeting.

Fitts is employed now in the water department with the City of Holly Springs. He had previously been employed by the city, left, then returned to work with a service crew in water/wastewater at the water department.

Alderman-at-large Dexter Shipp made a motion to hire Fitts in the November 16 meeting but the motion failed for lack of a second.

A candidate for the key position as accounting manager at the Holly Springs Utility Department also failed to get a motion.

Annie Mason, who holds a bachelor of science in accounting and a master’s in business administration from Ole Miss, was recommended by Gipson.

Alderman Colter Teel delved for more information on the interview process. Aldermen had previously passed a motion to advertise open positions, with interviewing of prospective candidates by a panel that would include a representative from Human Resources and one alderman.

That board of aldermen action was reported in the October 14, 2021, edition #41, of The South Reporter in the article entitled “City board voices concern.”

“Were you interviewed by HR?” Teel asked.

“By the mayor and the utility manager,” Mason said.

Mason said she has held positions of this level with several prior employers.

“Why do you want to leave (prior employment)?” Teel asked.

Mason said she has over 25 years in manufacturing and real estate and is “prepared for whatever comes before me.”

Gipson called for a motion but aldermen did not give the mayor a motion for a board order to hire Mason.

During board discussion, aldermen pressed for more information on business matters that have not been resolved.

“Where are we on getting the money back in the CD (certificate of deposit)?” Teel asked.

The matter involved a transfer of $400,000 from a CD into an account at the Holly Springs Utility Department needed to pay TVA for a power bill.

“We’re still working on it,” Gipson said. “That is why I wanted to hire the accounting person to help with that.”

“Is there a time frame?” Teel asked. “I feel like we are stretching this out.

“Where are we on the Gray’s Power issue?”

The issue Teel was referring to was a bill owed to Gray’s for $307,000 for right-of-way maintenance under power lines in the HSUD system.

Gipson said attorney John Perry is looking at it.

“The time frame to do it?” Teel asked.

“A week or so,” Gipson said.

Speaking to Michael Gray, Teel said, “I understand we have brought your business to a halt. We need to make a move.”

Gray said he can’t understand the city’s refusal to not pay for 13 large trees he took down.

That bill for about $29,000 was a separate job from the right-of-way maintenance under the power lines.

Previously, CFO Steve Reed, who was pushed out by the elimination of the CFO position by the board and mayor September 30, had handled all the HSUD accounts held in three banks in Holly Springs — approximately 17 in all.

Shipp asked Gipson where the city is on completion of a new road within the cemetery.

“I was hoping tonight to have my street director – to be able to do this in house,” Gipson said. “I cannot find anything in the file. I’ve been looking with Mr. Bain (Bain Brothers) to create a new project.”

“The double parking – anything done about it across from Sims?” Shipp asked.

Police chief Grant Glover said parking at the apartment complex has been resolved.

“Where are we on the gazebo?” Shipp asked.

The new gazebo located at the Spring Hollow Park area off North Center Street and Falconer Avenue has been waiting for a structural engineer to inspect the structural integrity before it is approved for use.

“We are looking at the cost of equipment the contractor said he would need,” Gipson said.

She called for an executive session to discuss the matter of the gazebo. The board and mayor emerged from executive session with no action recommended.