Council debates hiring policy, credit-card custody and introduces new CFO

At the Nov. 17 Hampton County Council meeting members engaged in an extended exchange about hiring policy, the council's role in approving personnel policies and custody of county credit cards. The county administrator also announced a new chief financial officer and said hiring had resumed after the county filled HR staffing gaps.

A council member repeatedly asked whether the county had changed hiring policy and whether council-developed policy governs the administrator's hiring authority. The administrator and county attorney repeatedly stated the county had not made policy changes but had "cleaned up some processes and procedures." The county attorney declined to provide a legal opinion in open session, saying he would provide advice when asked appropriately.

The exchange also included a council member's objection to a plan communicated earlier that would place county credit cards in the treasurer's custody under a new credit card system. That council member argued the treasurer is an elected official and placing credit cards under her control would limit the county's ability to hold that official accountable because the council does not exercise supervisory authority over an elected treasurer.

County Administrator confirmed hiring had resumed and that HR personnel had been added to allow departments to move forward with recruiting. The meeting also included a brief announcement introducing the new CFO, who joined the county staff that week.

No formal policy change was adopted during the session; council members requested further discussion and review of the handbook and policies at a future meeting.