Hope reinstates town official after three month contract gap
The town of Hope is bringing its zoning and building administrator back on duty. That after he was caught up in the removal of the town manager at the end of last year.
In a heated meeting in December, the Town Council opted not to renew the contract for then-town manager J.T. Doane. Some council members said that they thought the town manager contract should go out to bid instead of simply rehiring Doane.
But when it came time later that night to renew the contract for building and zoning administrator Greg Potts, angry council members also insisted his contract be put out to bid.
After months of wrangling over how to seek bids for an employment contract, the council decided last night to rescind the previous decision on seeking bidders and to simply rehire Potts to the position with a three percent raise. Council member Nellie Meek and Clyde Compton also asked that the council consider back pay for Potts, as he had continued working for the town during the gap between the contracts. The position pays just over $6,100.
According to the town website, the building and zoning administrator is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the town’s zoning ordinance, the subdivision control ordinance, the unsafe structure ordinance, and the rental property registration ordinance.
There has still been no decision on how or if the town will fill the open town manager position.