Council proposes jobs policy

Summerville Town Council is taking tentative steps to write a policy for filling council-appointed jobs other than department heads.

Council members unhappy with the process by which a municipal judge was appointed in June introduced a seven-point resolution at council's July 9 meeting. The document states that vacancies would be advertised and applications reviewed by town staff and council.

Council members would receive information about applicants at least two weeks before any vote is held, according to the proposal.

After a brief discussion in which some council members called for more details, the issue was tabled. Council asked town attorney Mark Stokes to study the proposal, which is expected to be brought up at council's Aug. 13 meeting.

The issue came up June 11 when Councilmen Bob Jackson, Howard Bridgman and Mike Dawson urged council to postpone a vote to appoint Dorchester County Magistrate James H. Messervy to a town judgeship. Councilman Ricky Waring nominated Messervy and said it was important to fill the long-vacant position as soon as possible.

Messervy was approved 4-3. Jackson, Bridgman and Dawson argued that whether or not Messervy was the best candidate, council was shredding an earlier verbal agreement on advertising the job and reviewing applicants. Messervy was one of a dozen applicants, and none of the others was considered or interviewed, the three council members contended.

Waring said some on council had asked town staff to advertise the judgeship vacancy, but no agreement was made on a timetable or process for reviewing applicants.

On June 11, Bridgman moved to approve a resolution covering appointments. Councilman Bob Jackson said the resolution will enable council to consider newcomers to town as well as those with deep roots in town when it comes to making appointments.

"The town has changed from a small town to a relatively big town," Jackson said.

Waring, who noted council already has a procedure for advertising for and selecting department heads, said the proposal fails to spell out which jobs it covers.

"I've got big questions about this resolution. I really think we ought to study this before we pass it. We could be opening a big can of worms," Waring said.

Dawson called the proposal "a starting point. We've just got to tweak it."

Councilman Aaron Brown's suggestion that the resolution be tabled for 30 days was unanimously approved.

Reach Edward C. Fennell at efennell@postandcourier.com or 745-5865.