Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hurst, Smith Swap Words Over City's Hiring Procedures

What began as a normal meeting of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Commission ended in an argument between the city's mayor and the department manager.

Monday night, the commission met in regular session, discussing business the department conducted during the past month and plans for the future.

After about 30 minutes, with the meeting about to adjourn, Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith asked Harold Hurst, the department head, about the newest employee.

Earlier this month, Hurst had hired James Barker to replace Bobby Coplen who left his job voluntarily after being involved in an auto accident, though he was not injured in it.

Barker, Hurst informed the commissioners, has the experience necessary to do the job after having worked with Arkla Gas and Arkansas Power and Light before.

The problem Smith had, however, was Hurst failed to go through the city's personnel committee and didn't advertise the position first.

Hurst argued he wanted to keep politics out of hiring, which is what happens, he said, when committees get involved.

He said he normally advertises openings, doesn't talk to applicants until the deadline, then interviews everyone who applied before making a decision.

Hurst said the commission has never told him who to hire for the department.

He informed Smith the municipal handbook gives the commission the authority to hire and fire.

"This is the way we've always done it until the present mayor," Hurst said. "He's the one with the problem, not the commission."

Smith responded the idea is to get away from the "good old boy" system of hiring and firing. By going through the personnel committee this weight would be removed from Hurst's shoulders, the mayor said.

Hurst retaliated saying the mayor doesn't follow his own guidelines in hiring and firing, pointing out the hiring of street department employees and an assistant to the mayor, he claimed had been hired with none of the openings being advertised and the committee not being involved.

"If you can't operate by these guidelines," Hurst said, "why expect us to?"

"It's my decision and it's final," Smith said. "There will be a personnel policy committee and if there's a problem, the commission can come before the council." The mayor informed Hurst the city council is the governing body of Gurdon and has authority over the commission.

The two argued for half-an-hour on the issue, each stating their opinions on what they felt and believed.

Smith said by following set procedures for hiring and firing, the city would be less likely to be sued for unfair labor practices.

Hurst said the city, at this time, doesn't have any policies in writing, therefore they can't be followed.

Currently, the personnel committee is composed of Carroll Coston, a member of the water commission, David Williams and Roy Quinney, two former members of the Gurdon City Council. Both Williams and Quinney have been replaced on the panel, though Williams expressed his interest at remaining on the personnel committee. Additionally, the department head involved sits on the panel as well.

Smith said this committee needs to be expanded to five or seven members, with at least three showing up at each meeting to make decisions.

He also pointed out the mayor is not on the committee. He said the committee does the interviewing and makes its recommendation.

In the case of the water commission, once this recommendation is made, the commissioners and Hurst would decide who to hire.

Smith said the department head normally gets who they want anyway, but by going through the committee the city is protected from suit.

At this time, Smith said, the personnel handbook has been retyped and needs to be edited and updated, with procedures worked out and put in writing. He said there also needs to be job descriptions for each position.

Coston had originally moved to follow the city's personnel guidelines, but withdrew the motion until these are set on paper.

In the meantime, if an opening arises in any department, a part-time or temporary employee can be hired to fill it. These workers will also have the opportunity to apply for the jobs on a full-time basis.

Commissioner Don Morehead said this can be addressed at the February meeting, if the city council has the policies in writing.

Smith said he would do what he could to have written procedures approved by the council and brought before the commission at the Feb. meeting.

In other business, the commission was informed the water tank has been cleaned and is back in service.

Hurst said the damaged float was also repaired, which brought the cost of repair to $1,600 instead of $1,350.

Bids for the rural water project will be opened Thursday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. in City Hall.

Hurst said project engineer Charles Summerford had requests for 30 sets of plans, so the opening could take longer than normal.

The commission also discussed possibly purchasing a new antenna for its radio system because of problems incurred when employees go east of Gurdon toward Whelen Springs.

Hurst said if they use the current antenna, having it placed with the Gurdon Police Department's antenna, the cost would be either $1,885.25 or $1,355.25, depending on the size of coaxial cable used.

The sales representative for Bates Sales and Service of Mt. Ida, suggested using a 7/8 inch coax for better quality transmission and reception.

The salesman also suggested going with a new antenna altogether, at a cost of $3,083.28, and tried to sell the department a new repeater for $5,000.

Hurst was instructed to get more information on the cost of new antennas from different companies for the Feb. meeting.