by Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The City of Saluda is discussing the possibility of changing its administrator form of government to a manager form of government following the resignation of administrator Erny Williams.

Saluda City Council met Monday, June 8 and discussed the difference in the two forms of governments.

Commissioner Lynn Cass brought up the subject saying she began looking into the possibility after resident and former commissioner John Morgan brought up the idea of Saluda having a manager versus an administrator the night Williams resigned in April.

Cass said she discovered the city can change its charter without having to go to the state for a local bill in order to change to a manager form of government.

Cass said Saluda can amend its charter after a public hearing or hold a referendum in order to make the change. Council can either change the charter or the public can request a referendum with a petition containing at least 10 percent of registered voters.

City attorney Bailey Nager gave insight on the possible switch using the Town of Columbus as an example. Nager said Columbus had an administrator form of government several years back and around 2004 changed to a manager form.

“The principal difference in what you are doing now versus a manager is that person (a manager) is tasked with hiring and firing employees,” said Nager.

Saluda commissioners currently hire and fire employees and have oversight over each department, including public safety, water and sewer, public buildings and streets.

Nager said even with a manager form of government commissioners could still have oversight over departments if they so chose.

The manager would have to honor whatever the board wanted him or her to do and even with hiring and firing the manager would consult with the governing body letting the board know what is going on, according to Nager.

The towns of Tryon and Columbus each have manager forms of governments as well as Polk County. The cities of Landrum and Saluda are the only local governments in the area with an administrator form.

Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden said with a manager the board of commissioners would still set the city’s policies.

Nager also said the board could choose to have direct hiring power over other employees besides the manager, including the clerk, zoning administrator and the finance director if the board chose.

Saluda has ended advertising for a new city administrator. Baisden updated the public that the city received 15 applications for the administrator position with the next step being the board deciding which applicants to interview.

Nager said at the time Columbus switched from administrator to manager they did it with the same employee. Columbus formerly had administrator Glenn Rhodes and during his employment switched to a manager form of government making Rhodes the town manager.

Saluda could do the same as it has advertised for an administrator, not a manager.

Commissioner Leon Morgan asked about Tryon having to pay a manager upon his leaving at one point in time.

Nager said a payout when a manager leaves only occurs when a local government has a contract with a manager.

“I think we really need to think about this before we pass it,” commissioner Morgan said.

Resident Sunny Pace asked if it is expected that a manager make more money than an administrator.

Baisden said not much, and Saluda may look at combining some duties for a manager if the city changed its charter to allow for a manager.

Nager said a manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city in all respects and is over all departments. The board will still set the policy, but the manager would oversee and manage all departments on a day-to-day basis, Nager said.

Commissioners decided to continue the discussion at its July meeting and decide then if it wants to pursue a manager form of government.

The board would first have to approve a resolution to move forward with changing its charter then hold a public hearing prior to approval.

Baisden said he doesn’t see the city hiring a new administrator prior to the July meeting.