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Board readies process to fill county treasurer vacancy; interim treasurer may be reappointed
Summary
County attorneys and staff described the process for filling a vacancy in the office of county treasurer beginning Jan. 6; the board posted the vacancy and said it may reappoint the current interim treasurer or consider other applicants before that date.
Richland County staff and the county attorney briefed the board on the process to fill an upcoming vacancy in the county treasurer’s office that will commence Jan. 6, when the recently elected treasurer declines to take office.
County legal staff said state law contemplates the scenario where an elected candidate declines the office and allows the governing board to fill the vacancy so that the county is not left without a treasurer. The vacancy was posted on the county website and staff said the board can reappoint the current interim treasurer, Ashley, appoint another qualified applicant, or call a special election (which would take more time and cost more).
Staff noted there is no statutory requirement that the vacancy notice be published in a newspaper for this internal appointment process; staff posted the vacancy online to ensure transparency and said they expect to act at the next full board meeting if applications are received. Supervisors asked whether the board could discuss the current interim treasurer’s performance; staff cautioned that open-session discussion of an employee’s performance may be inappropriate and offered to provide a written performance evaluation if the board wanted one.
Staff asked for direction on whether to proceed with the appointment at the next regular meeting and said that if the board does not act at its next meeting, a special session will be required. The county attorney said he would prepare a draft signature document to formalize the outgoing treasurer’s declination if the written letter is not yet in the clerk’s office, and staff said they would pursue the paperwork that week so the board could act before Jan. 6 if desired.
No formal appointment was made during the meeting; staff said more materials will be provided and that the board will likely act next week or in a special session if necessary.
