News Summary
The Clinton City Council has selected Joey Meadors as the new city manager, succeeding Tom Brooks. Meadors brings 45 years of experience with the city and will earn an annual salary of $135,000. His appointment was supported by a 6-1 vote, reflecting the council’s confidence in his leadership abilities during this transitional period. The council evaluated a pool of 69 applicants before deciding on Meadors, who had previously served as assistant city manager. A budget workshop is scheduled for May, when Meadors is expected to play a key role in upcoming deliberations.
Clinton, South Carolina – The Clinton City Council has officially appointed Joey Meadors as the new city manager, a decision made during a closed session on Wednesday night. Meadors, who previously had a long tenure with the city, is set to earn an annual salary of $135,000.
Mayor Randy Randall announced the hiring following discussions among council members about the city manager search. The council had authorized the mayor along with legal counsel to negotiate a contract with one of three finalists for the position. The other two finalists included Andy Howard, Laurens County’s parks, recreation, and tourism director, and Will Riley, currently serving as the assistant city manager and human resources director for Clinton.
The hiring was supported by a 6-1 vote in favor of Meadors, with Council Member Anita Williams providing the only dissenting vote. No comments were made by Williams regarding her opposition. Discussions related to the manager’s position were held in a closed session, leaving unclear the voting details of individual council members.
Meadors will be succeeding Tom Brooks, who resigned to pursue a private business opportunity. In the interim, Carl Stevens, who is the city’s finance director and assistant city manager, had taken over the responsibilities as acting city manager.
The search for the new city manager was extensive, facilitated by the SC Municipal Association, which sifted through an initial pool of 69 applicants to identify 10 finalists. Out of these, the council interviewed 5 candidates, although two withdrew from consideration before the interviews proceeded. The interviews were conducted at nearby Presbyterian College.
The criteria set forth by the city for the new city manager included the necessity of a bachelor’s degree in fields such as Public Administration, Business Administration, or Urban Planning (_a master’s degree is preferred_). Additionally, candidates were expected to demonstrate effective communication skills, a team-oriented approach, and possess three to five years of experience as either a City or County Manager. Assistant City Managers with relevant qualifications were also eligible for consideration. Specific experience in managing utilities, particularly electric systems, was listed as an advantageous asset.
Mayor Randall previously indicated that the goal was to have a new manager in place before the upcoming budget deliberations. A budget workshop for the Clinton City Council has already been scheduled, taking place on May 15 at 6 p.m.
Meadors has a longstanding history with the City of Clinton, having worked there for 45 years before retiring in September 2020. His extensive experience and familiarity with the city’s workings are expected to serve him well in his new role.
This appointment comes during a time of transition for the city as it seeks to continue moving forward and implementing efficient governance after Brooks’ departure. The council’s decision reflects their confidence in Meadors’ ability to lead the city effectively into its next chapter.
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Additional Resources
- GOLaurens: Clinton City Council Hires New Manager
- Wikipedia: Clinton, South Carolina
- My Clinton News: 3 Finalists for Clinton Manager
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Clinton
- My Clinton News: Clinton City Manager Application Deadline
- Google News: Clinton City Manager
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