Oak Hill to interview three for city clerk/administrator position

OAK HILL -- The City Commission agreed earlier tonight to interview three candidates for the vacant city clerk/administrator position that resulted from the surprise resignation of Stella McLeod who left three hours earlier than she was supposed to Friday on her last day.
 
The candidates are Acting City Clerk Laura Goodearly and a third applicant whose resume wasn't readily available for the meeting. Cherbano was twice city clerk earlier in the decade.
 
Her name was initially brought up by City Commissioner Mary Lee Cook who explained Cherbano was an experienced clerk who had to deal with a lot of political infighting.
 
"We all know of the reasons  -- she has a lot of experience," Cook said.
 
City Attorney Scott Simpson advised the commission that Oak Hill's city charter does not require formal posting after several commissioners expressed concern about timing and expense.
    
City Commissioner Bill Marcello said the job needs to be filled quickly and with three applicants he did not see the need to advertise. "Why not interview the ones we have right now as a courtesy," he said.
 
Mayor Darla Lauer agreed, saying the position needs to be filled quickly: "It makes my job so much easier."
 
Goodearly asked the commission to consider a survey of the employees who worked with Cherbano to gauge their feelings about her, but Stone said she didn't feel that as necessary and had high praise for her. So did several residents at the meeting.
 
"We've has six different clerks in eight years," said Ron Mercer, a former city commissioner who is running again in the November elections. "Give her a contract. She left twice for political reasons. We need experience."
 
There was no further mention of the third candidate, but Goodearly was asked to get in touch with her to set up an interview withe the commission. The commission agreed to set aside 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week to interview each candidate. Cook will schedule the specific interviews.
 
McLeod, who had been city clerk/administrator since January 2007, was paid $45,000 annually. Goodearly, the deputy city clerk, is paid $39,999.
 
Mayor Lauer and City Commissioners Marcello, Stone and Kathy Bittle agreed to interview the three who have shown interest. City Commissioner Mike Thompson was absent.