Sumpter Township Clerk Esther Hurst repeated her concerns regarding the hiring of Darwin McClary as the new township administrator during the regular meeting of the board of trustees Feb. 22.
A motion to accept the formal recommendation of the hiring committee drew some criticism from Hurst who questioned the failure to schedule a second interview with the job candidate. She read from the official minutes of the hiring committee meeting stating that a second interview would take place. “I want to know who decided not to have the second interview. The minutes say second there would be a second interview,” she said.
Trustee and Interim Deputy Supervisor Tim Rush explained that a second interview “was on the table” but was not scheduled following the vote of the committee members selecting McClary.
Trustee Peggy Morgan agreed with Hurst. “I was under the impression there would be a second interview. I was shocked they (the hiring committee) didn't have them (the candidates) at a second meeting,” she said. “Nothing against this gentleman, but I am against having an administrator. The township is not big enough,” she said.
Trustee Don La Porte said he, too, expected a second interview. “This is the highest position in the building other than elected officials,” he said. He said he expected the second interview to be one during which the township trustees could discuss salary, benefits and expectations with the candidate. “I scratched my head and wondered what he would be getting as benefits. What do we offer these candidates,” LaPorte said.
Hurst reiterated her concerns about the amount of time McClary has spent at various municipalities during his more than 30 years of experience as a city and village manager. She said her concern was the short amount of time McClary spent at various communities.
Rush said that Public Safety Director Eric Luke had provided the background check information at the meeting of the hiring committee and that he had personally made calls on the candidate's references, finding nothing negative. He said the short-term employments were “political” in nature and as new boards and councils were elected, those officials chose new administrators and managers.
Trustee Matt Oddy said he felt the issue was one of protocol.
“The minutes were approved and I, too, was expecting a second interview. It puts us in a bind with protocol,” he said. “We put two employees in a position they should never have been in. I don't think we should have an employee, a contract employee, or any other employee approving or voting yes or no on somebody who they may be subordinate to.
“It was a very poor decision. Not a great protocol to have anyone vote on someone who could be their boss. We made a mistake,” Oddy said.
Supervisor Tim Bowman said he supported the choice of the committee and felt the board should move on with directing township attorney Rob Young to prepare the employment contract for McClary.
“We formed a committee and the committee voted. I see no reason to interview twice,” Bowman said.
Hurst, however, said that she found “red flags” in the background checks, again referencing McClary's short terms at other communities. “I'm looking for somebody who stays here. McClary has been at many different jobs.”
While the motion to direct Young to prepare an employment contract for McClary was being discussed, Oddy suggested that the board members needed to provide direction to the attorney as to provisions of the employment agreement.
Young said that he expected it would be the same contract as he had prepared for the last five management hires as a one-year, at-will agreement severable by either party with specific details regarding vacation time. The variable, Young said, was the salary amount, in this case to be $90,000.
The hiring was approved by four votes with Oddy and Hurst casting no votes and Morgan remaining silent and not voting on the motion.
