The Habersham County Commission met in called session Monday morning to interview candidates for the county manager position.
The county hired the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVI/CVIOG) at the University of Georgia to assist with the search for a permanent county manager in July. According to the board of commissioners, during the application process, 13 people applied for the job. Only four made it to the interviewing process, one of which withdrew from consideration.
“I was a little late to the process but from what I can tell and what I’ve heard so far, the CVI let us down on this one particular project,” newly-elected Commissioner Ty Akins told Now Habersham. “Maybe not their best work, although it was still helpful in narrowing down the candidates.”
The commission interviewed three finalists, which included former Fitchburg, Wisconsin City Administrator Patrick Marsh, former Baldwin City Administrator Jerry Neace and interim manager Alicia Vaughn. 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.
Patrick Marsh was placed on administrative leave from his last government position in Fitchburg following his arrest last year in Myrtle Beach. Marsh was charged with third-degree assault and battery, disorderly conduct and public intoxication after an alleged fight in a restaurant.
Neace served as Baldwin City Administrator from 2018 to 2020. He resigned as mayor to take the job. The city council unanimously voted to fire him last summer. City Council officials signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement at the time of his termination, and say they cannot elaborate on why he was fired. It was reported at the time that the council agreed to pay Neace more than $100,000 as part of the separation agreement.
The commission won’t make a decision on their pick for county manager for another two weeks.
“I want everyone to take the next two weeks or so and mull over it,” Commission Chairman Dustin Mealor said. “[And] consider who they think would be the best fit for the county, and we’ll go from there.”
The commission plans to hold a special called meeting as soon as they can after their 14-day waiting period to vote on who the county manager will be. After that vote, the county will enter into contract negotiations with that finalist.
“This is a really important decision for the county,” Mealor said. “We want to get it taken care of as quickly as possible.”
This article has been updated with new information.
