There is still no official Greensboro city manager. Mayor Corey Williams nominated Sylvester city manager Autron Hayes for the position at the May 6 council meeting. In a split 3-2 vote, the city council supported the mayor’s nomination.
It was expected to become official at Monday’s meeting. But, during the meeting followed by a short executive session, no action was taken.
This same council’s first attempt to hire a city manager last year did not work out. Jarvis Sims resigned under pressure after serving only nine months. He was often reported to not be in his office or available to discuss issues with citizens and city employees.
“The mayor is being real careful about how he’s doing things,” city council member Morris Miller told the Lake Oconee News. “Our attorney advised us to just do it, take your time, do it the right way. So that’s what happened.”
Williams told the Lake Oconee News that Hayes remains his choice and “we’re still trying to work out some details.” But Hayes was not the mayor’s first choice.
In the March 4 meeting, Williams nominated David Curry, the former Georgia Commissioner of Revenue, as his top candidate, but city council rejected Williams’ request on a vote of 3-2.
Miller says he voted against Curry because he has never been a city manager.
“He did a lot of good things for the whole state of Georgia,” Miller said. “But Greensboro right now, you know the condition we are in. We need a city manager just to come in and actually do the job, day one.”
Miller has always been a supporter of Hayes.
“When I interviewed him, I was just impressed with some of the things he has accomplished,” Miller said. “He’s well-knowledgeable of the job. He has been doing this for over 24 years.”
Miller says Hayes will officially become city manager at the council’s next meeting on June 3, adding that he will be in Greensboro starting May 28.
Also, at Monday night’s city council meeting:
• The council voted to condemn the old Walgreens building across from Festival Hall. Final action will be taken in 30 days following legally required public announcements in the local newspapers.
• In a very brief report, the council was told that the Greensboro fire department is conducting joint training with the other city and county departments.
• Noreene Parker was reappointed to another Greensboro Historic Preservation Commission term.