Who Will Be Fannin’s Next Rec Director?

News

After the unsurprising resignation on Oct. 4th of John Scalera as Director of Fannin County Recreation Department, the county is on the hunt for a replacement.  Currently, Fannin Recreation Department’s Eddie O’Neal is serving as interim director.  O’Neal is also the athletic director for Fannin County.

County hiring practices have been at the center of two different heated exchanges from Post-Commissioners Johnson and Sosebee directed towards Simonds and County Clerk Rita Davis Kirby. At the Aug. 23rd meeting, Johnson and Sosebee made it extremely clear that Fannin County will not hire friends and family of current employees, especially when the two employees will be working in the same department  ( see article).

At the Sept. 13th  meeting, Post-Commissioners Johnson and Sosebee chided Commission Chair Simonds on how he handled the hiring and then un-hiring of an Assistant County Finance Administrator. The assistant administrator, who Simonds gave authority to hire, is the wife of a Sheriff’s Office employee. Johnson and Sosebee explicitly said in the xxxxx meeting not to hire. They did not want two people overseeing Fannin’s finances who have close family ties in the Sheriff’s Department (Rita Davis Kirby is wife of Fannin County Sheriff Dane Kirby).  Johnson and Sosebee also stated that this is no disrespect to the Kirby’s or the Sheriff’s Office, simply Johnson and Sosebee wanted to transparently avoid any suggestions of improper financial oversight (see article).

County hiring practices were at the center of Johnson and Sosebee’s lawsuit against Commission Chair Bill Simonds.  As a result of the lawsuit, the county charter changed so that the entire Board of Commissioners has the exclusive power and authority to appoint and remove department heads.  Previously, the Commission Chair could hire and fire without bringing the decision before the Board.

At the Oct. 11th Board of Commissioners meeting, 7 days after Scalera resigned,  the Board of Commissioners did not publicly state the hiring process for the new Rec Director.

After the meeting, FetchYourNews asked Sosebee where they planned to advertise for the next Rec Director.  Sosebee said “in the newspaper and on-line.” FetchYourNews asked him if the job opening is already advertised, Sosebee said that Davis Kirby would know that.

Simonds refused to answer the questions when FetchYourNews asked him earlier by email and at the Oct. 11th County Commissioners meeting.

On Oct. 17th,  13 days after the resignation, FetchYourNews contacted Davis Kirby about where and when the job will be posted.  Davis Kirby replied, “The Board has not advised me as to when they will post this position.”

 

See related article  : “Rec Department Director John Scalera Resigns

 

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