Fairhope council questions mayoral hiring practices

By Cliff McCollum
Posted 1/18/17

Several Fairhope City Council members had questions about Mayor Karin Wilson’s hiring practices during the Jan. 9 Fairhope council meeting.

Wilson was seeking council approval to create a …

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Fairhope council questions mayoral hiring practices

Posted

Several Fairhope City Council members had questions about Mayor Karin Wilson’s hiring practices during the Jan. 9 Fairhope council meeting.

Wilson was seeking council approval to create a part-time executive assistant position, but Council President Jack Burrell questioned whether Wilson had already made the hire without asking for council approval or publicly posting the job.

“Was someone already hired for this position?” Burrell asked. “Did I not see someone working in city hall with a badge in this position?”

Wilson responded she felt she had the authority to make such a hire and had brought on Fairhope resident Lynn Maser in the position.

“I can hire who I need and put in the salary I see fit,” Wilson said. “Hiring one and a half people for my office was about the same as the full-time assistant that Tim Kant had. I think it’s safe to say the citizens want me to get in and get things done and have the support I need.”

Burrell responded that the statute the mayor had previously cited to him as her basis for the hiring authority was specific to Jefferson County and not the city of Fairhope.

“I do have doubt that you can hire them or created the position without it being budgeted,” Burrell said. “You can’t hire someone for a job that doesn’t exist of that has not been funded.”

A Fairhope human resources document obtained by The Courier shows that Maser was hired for the part-time position on Dec. 14 of last year at a rate of $19.23 per hour, more than two weeks before Wilson sought council approval for the position. The salary range for the position stretched from $38,270 to $61,232.

City Attorney Marion ‘Tut’ Wynne said after looking at the law in question, he felt the position had to be created through the existing personnel structure.

“I think it has to go through the personnel procedures,” Wynne said. “If it doesn’t exist and it isn’t budgeted, you have to wait until that’s done.”

Wilson told Burrell she didn’t appreciate how the situation was being handled.

“You could have called me on this, Jack,” Wilson said.

Burrell responded quickly.

“Other than make allegations that are baseless against me, you haven’t called me much at all,” Burrell replied.

Wilson said she just wanted to have a team in place that could help her do the jobs the citizens of Fairhope have asked her to do.

“Bottom line, I think that I need the help to move this city forward,” Wilson said. “I did not come in with a transition team. I hired a part-time person to help me do some research and that’s what I felt like I’ve needed. The full time person I’ve hired and this person equals what Tim Kant had before.”

Wilson added that without a final budget for the fiscal year set, there have been issues that require more staffing for city hall.

“We’re working with a very slim staff right now for what we have as an administrative team,” Wilson said. “I didn’t do this because I was trying to sneak something by. I read that I could hire to get the administrative staff I needed, so I hired a part-time person.”

Councilman Jay Robinson told Wilson he wanted to give her all the help that she needed, but said he didn’t feel comfortable with creating another position without a full budget in place.

Wilson seemed angered by Robinson’s response.

“You’re blocking me,” Wilson said. “If you listen to the citizens, if you pay attention to the work session, you’re blocking me. If it’s from Karin, let’s go ahead and micromanage it.”

Robinson denied the claim that he or other council members were trying to block Wilson or her requests.

“I do agree with you in a sense that the citizens want us to work together,” Robinson said. “The idea of us all agreeing all the time is just not feasible. My point is that when we don’t agree that we can find a way to talk it out in a rational and reasonable matter that can benefit everyone. My ultimate goal for everyone is that we do what’s right for the citizens. That vote is going to be what’s reasonable and what is in the best interest of the citizens moving forward.”

As the council voted on the resolution to approve the position, Burrell, Robinson and Councilman Kevin Boone all voted no. Councilman Jimmy Conyers was the lone yes vote.

Several days after the meeting, Wilson fired her existing administrative assistant Heather Hudson and has replaced her with Maser.