Starkville aldermen again shuffled the city’s personnel deck Tuesday, tasking Assistant Personnel Director Stephanie Halbert to lead human resources as Director Randy Boyd transitions to an advisory role after he notified the board of his intention to retire.
Boyd will serve in the role until the end of April. Although Halbert’s appointment is on an interim basis, aldermen are expected to rubberstamp the promotion since they created her previous position this term in an attempt to begin succession planning.
Both Boyd and Halbert will co-write a new job description for payroll clerk, one of the job functions Halbert was previously tasked with, and the city will then advertise the position.
Aldermen also assigned Starkville’s finance director duties, a void created by former Chief Administrative Officer Taylor Adams’ recent departure, to City Clerk Lisa Hardin.
“Mr. Boyd has provided a remarkable service during his tenure with the city. He is the consummate professional. He has used his vast experience to ensure that our employees are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Mayor Parker Wiseman. “Mrs. Halbert has shown much promise during her tenure with the city clerk’s office and the personnel department. I am confident that she will perform well in her new role as acting director of human resources.”
Boyd, who has 45 years of human resource experience in the public and private sectors, has worked with the city for the last eight years. He commended his heir apparent, saying Halbert has the potential to become an excellent leader.
“It’s been a very diverse experience. We’re going to kick back and enjoy time with grandkids,” he said.
Both Halbert and Hardin thanked the board for the vote of confidence shown in their appointments.
“I’m excited about the new role, and I look forward to working with department heads as we continue to move the city forward,” Halbert said.
Hardin’s ascension to finance director is familiar territory for the city clerk. She previously served as Eupora’s city clerk for about 15 years and with Watkins, Ward and Stafford PLLC, a public accounting firm, for about a decade.
“I’m very grateful for the board’s support,” she said.
Boyd’s departure is one of many made this term by Starkville employees in high-profile positions.
Some, like the retiring human resources director, have left quietly on their own terms, while others were ousted from their positions.
At least four employees -Starkville Parks and Recreation Maintenance Supervisor Kenneth Gordon, CAO Lynn Spruill, Administrative Assistant Chanteau Wilson and Debra Wood, a municipal court clerk – were effectively fired this term.
Wilson and Wood were given ultimatums – resign or be terminated – while Gordon’s and Spruill’s tenure were unceremoniously ended immediately.
Former Starkville Police Chief David Lindley also resigned his post in 2013 after he was placed on administrative leave following the launch of an internal investigation into a traffic incident involving his wife.
William Snowden, the city’s former community development director, resigned due to health-related issues that same year, and former Starkville Fire Chief Rodger Mann retired this year, concluding a 33-year career with the city.
Adams announced his departure in September after he accepted a procurement job in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Numerous officials, including Sanitation and Environmental Services Director Emma Gandy, Hardin, City Engineer Edward Kemp, Wilson and Boyd, have been placed on probation this term.
Aldermen also previously placed the entire Starkville Parks and Recreation department on probation after the city took over the once-autonomous entity.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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