SNOW HILL — Greene County commissioners are not ready to let go of the one person who has been instrumental in digging the county out of financial distress.
The board voted unanimously on Monday night to retain Interim County Manager Richard Hicks through December 2014.
The decision was motioned by Commissioner Jerry Jones and seconded by Commissioner Denny Garner.
The board also selected Commissioner Bennie Heath as the new chairman and Garner as vice-chairman — according to the rotation the board has practiced for a number of years.
Heath said he hopes to continue the financial progress that has been made in the past year.
“This will be my fifth term as chairman and I do appreciate the opportunity to serve as chairman,” he said.
Hicks will continue to work for 20 hours a week, part-time, at $50 an hour. The annual pay will total $50,000 without benefits if Hicks takes two weeks off during the year.
The board had advertised a full-time position in the range of $80,000 to $90,000 plus benefits. By hiring Hicks, the county will save at least $50,000.
Commissioners went through about 20 applications and selected four candidates to interview. One of them was interviewed twice. Hicks said the board didn’t see any of the candidates as being a good fit.
“(The board) just didn’t feel comfortable with any of the four candidates,” he said. “They didn’t want to go through the selection process (again). They knew I had experience with the budget.”
With more than 20 counties searching for a county manager and Greene County’s financial challenges, the competition makes it difficult to find just the right person, Hicks said. Nash County, for example, is offering a $150,000 salary, he added.
Garner said all the candidates were good, but the choice came down to Hick’s familiarity with the budget and the savings through his part-time status.
“Richard really was the logical choice,” he said.
Two meetings ago, the commissioners asked Hicks in closed session if he would write up a proposal, Hicks said. He gave them his proposal the following meeting.
“I asked them to think about it,” he said on Tuesday about the board. “They went back over it last night and they all seemed to be comfortable with it and they decided to move forward.”
Garner said the commissioners didn’t think they would be able to retain Hicks, who had previously told the board he wouldn’t be able to stay past December because of his retirement.
But Hicks was able to keep his retirement. He will be giving up similar part-time work at Wilson Mills, he said.
Hicks did not go through the application process.
“We decided to go a different direction,” Heath said on Tuesday. “We made that decision last night — officially last night.”
Heath said the savings of about $50,000 is just one of the reasons the board decided to keep Hicks on another year.
“His understanding of Greene County’s financial situation is very important and how our financial system works,” Heath said. “He has assisted us for the last 12 months in a very positive direction.”
Heath also said Hicks is aware of several factors concerning the county, including the cost-saving measures he devised, where the county has come from and the direction of the recovery process.
Both Heath and Hicks said they anticipate an improved audit report.
“I think it will be interesting to see the results of our audit,” Heath said, “and see where we’ve come from and where we are.”
The audit, which generally is due by Oct. 31, was contracted with Barrow, Parris and Davenport of Kinston to be completed by the end of November. However, the county asked for a 30-day extension through the end of December.
The request for an extension was made last week to the Local Government Commission. While there has been no reply yet, Hicks said he is confident the extension will be granted.
The audit report is expected to be presented at the county’s first meeting of the year at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6.
“I think we’re going to be in good shape,” Hicks said. “I think it will definitely be an improvement.”
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.