GARFIELD -- The city is one step closer to appointing a recorder/treasurer.
The City Council unanimously approved an ordinance defining the duties and salary of the position at a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20. With the ordinance passed, the council can move forward in the hiring process.
"I have a whole new appreciation for the job itself," Mayor Gary Blackburn said last month. Blackburn assumed the duties of both positions when recorder/treasurer Merlene Snoderly abruptly departed after 23 years on the job.
The appointed candidate will fill the rest of a two-year term Snoderly vacated. Duties include bookkeeping, accounting, keeping minutes of council meetings and collecting and disbursing fees to city departments among other assigned tasks. It's an elected position.
The salary was set at $16,500 after a lengthy debate from aldermen and input from residents. Garfield's recorder/ treasurer also serves as water clerk. The council mulled splitting the position but ultimately decided against it.
Arkansas Code Annotated 14-44-116 stipulates whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of recorder/treasurer in a second class city such as Garfield, aldermen must elect a person to serve the unexpired term by the "first regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy."
Garfield's council members haven't yet had or scheduled the regular meeting for January. Blackburn said the law is unclear about the consequences of holding a meeting without a recorder/ treasurer but reiterated the council's goal is to hire the most qualified person. The January meeting was scheduled to be held Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Applications already on file will still be reviewed, but candidates now have until Feb. 15 to submit resumes, Blackburn said. The council will meet Feb. 17 to discuss the top applicants. Blackburn added the council has an advertising blitz planned.
Applicants must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, an eligible and registered voter and not a convicted felon.
"We want to take the time to find the best candidate," Blackburn said. "We're going to take a look at the resumes, set up a time to interview the ones we think are best and move on from there."
Aldermen had considered only reviewing resumes but voiced support for interviews.
"If I couldn't interview them, I wouldn't hire them," said alderman Bill Matthews Jr.
General News on 01/28/2015