The Jim Wells County Commissioners Court on July 25 approved forming an ad hoc Fremont-area committee of residents to screen applicants for the vacant librarian position at the Fremont Public Library and recommend two finalists to the court. The court set Aug. 8 as the target date for committee recommendations.

Court members said the library’s librarian left about a week and a half earlier, prompting officials to seek community involvement in identifying replacements. “We lost our librarian here a week and a half ago,” a county official said when describing the committee’s purpose.

The court named three local residents to the committee: Fred Gutierrez, Dahlia Galindo and Michelle Garcia. The committee will collect applications during an open application period, screen candidates and forward two recommended finalists to the Commissioners Court and the county judge for final consideration.

Commissioners and county staff clarified that if the committee conducts interviews the process becomes an HR matter. County Auditor Cindy Garcia offered that the auditor’s office or HR could attend in an advisory capacity to ensure appropriate, compliant interview questions and procedures. “If you’re gonna interview, then we definitely need...the auditor or HR,” Cindy Garcia said, describing the advisory role for questions and compliance.

The court approved the motion to form the committee by voice vote. No formal amendments were made; the committee is limited to this single-purpose screening and recommendation role.

The action directs the named residents to review applications and return two recommended finalists to the court by the Aug. 8 meeting date for final consideration by the judge and commissioners.

The court did not set hiring terms or authorize appointment authority to the committee; final selection remains with the Commissioners Court and the county judge.

The committee’s meetings, whether limited to application review or including interviews, will include an auditor/HR designee in an advisory capacity to ensure compliance with applicable employment procedures.