Demorest Mayor Jerry Harkness named city council members to preside over city departments, as well as named the city’s mayor pro-tem, at their work session Tuesday night.
“It’s in our charter that we appoint council people to oversee committees [and departments],” Harkness said at the work session. “That doesn’t mean that other council people can’t step in and help with other committees, they just oversee [them], they’re the first line of defense for those departments.”
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Harkness appointed Councilman Nathan Davis to serve as mayor pro-tem, as well as the councilman overseeing Demorest’s public safety.
Councilman Shawn Allen will preside over the finance department, and Councilmen Roy Andrew Ferguson and John Hendrix will divide the responsibilities of the public works department, which includes maintenance of the city’s streets and roads, water, park and cemetery. Hendrix currently leads the city’s park renovation committee.
The four councilmen agreed to serve in those appointed capacities. Those appointments will be up for reconsideration next year.
