The Habersham County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to make Interim County Manager Alicia Vaughn the sole finalist in the search for a permanent county manager during a special called meeting Tuesday night.
Interim County Manager Vaughn has served in the manager’s position since July, filling the vacancy left by Phil Sutton who resigned. Sutton held the position for nearly eight years.
She was one of three finalists the commission interviewed, which included former Fitchburg, Wisconsin City Administrator Patrick Marsh and former Baldwin City Administrator Jerry Neace.
Commissioner Jimmy Tench was the lone dissenting vote against Vaughn, making a comment regarding Vaughn’s abrupt leaving of her position as county manager in Catoosa County.
“What are we going to do if she decides to come in here, puts her keys down on the table and says she’s ready to go home?” Tench asked.
“Then I guess we’ll be back in search for a county manager again,” newly-appointed Chairman Bruce Palmer said.
His question is similar to the ones Cornelia Attorney Doug McDonald raised at the Dec. 20 commission meeting when he called on Vaughn to publicly state why she left her position in Catoosa County. Tench also opposed Vaughn becoming the interim manager in July.
There are still some steps that need to be taken before Vaughn can be appointed to the manager’s position.
“We have to actually offer her the job and do a contract, and negotiate her contract,” Palmer said. “Then, at that time, we can officially name her as the manager.”
Palmer hopes to officially appoint her to the county manager’s position at the commission’s Jan. 20 commission meeting.
