Starkville’s chief administrative officer position may go unfilled until the next term as Mayor Parker Wiseman studies administrative duties and takes on some of the job functions on an interim basis.
Since former CAO and Finance Director Taylor Adams concluded his tenure Tuesday and moved to Virginia for a new job, the board has not taken any formal action to advertise the vacancy or fill the position.
Wiseman said he and city staff will take up the slack created by the departure.
Adams’ financial duties are expected to slide back to City Clerk Lesa Hardin’s office on an interim basis, the mayor said.
Wiseman and three aldermen — David Little, Scott Maynard and Jason Walker — said the city should take its time, study its needs and not rush into a reactionary hiring process.
“I’m prepared to do that,” Wiseman said of expanding his day-to-day job functions. “My approach will be to involve myself in all aspects of the operation of the city and to do so with an approach of evaluating any other potential changes that might prove helpful. The thing that makes the most sense right now is to take some time and evaluate how it works in the short term without a CAO. As we get adjusted to working in this system, there will be other potential administrative wrinkles we’ll want to iron out.”
The short- and long-term timing of Adams’ departure complicates a potential hiring process.
First, Maynard said he and fellow aldermen are unlikely to advertise the job opening this year, as the upcoming holiday season typically yields weak candidate pools. Many possible applicants, he said, are unwilling to move during between October and January.
Additionally, a new hire in 2016 would only give a new CAO one year to establish a presence and track record before he or she faces re-appointment by the upcoming board of aldermen in 2017, Wiseman said.
“It is a big issue that we’re already over halfway through this term. It doesn’t leave (a new CAO) much time before the next election,” he said. “In the long run, I do believe it’s important for the city to have a CAO. If this works well for now, I think the ideal time to fill that position would be at the beginning of the 2017 term.”
Both Little and Walker echoed Maynard’s and Wiseman’s sentiments.
Adams tendered his resignation earlier this month after he accepted an offer to lead Virginia Beach, Virginia’s procurement efforts.
He officially joined Starkville in 2012 as finance director and city clerk, and was promoted to CAO — he also kept the finance director duties — two years later.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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