Council selects William R. Hearn Jr. as successor county attorney; Councilman Hearn recused

Dorchester County Council held an executive session on Nov. 17 to discuss two contractual matters: the purchase-and-sale agreement concerning 500 North Main Street and the selection of a successor county attorney.

Prior to the executive session, Councilman William Hearn (identified in the meeting as a candidate for the county attorney position) provided a written recusal and asked to be excused from deliberations and voting on the matter because he had applied and been interviewed for the position, creating a potential economic conflict of interest. The chair instructed that the written statement be printed verbatim in the meeting minutes. The chair read that "He is therefore excused from any votes, deliberations, and other actions on this matter on which this potential conflict of interest exists," and Councilman Hearn left the balance of the session.

After executive session, the council returned and a motion was made and seconded to engage William R. Hearn Jr. as successor county attorney, "subject to an acceptable contract of employment to be negotiated by the chairman and the county administrator in consultation with the county attorney and approved by county council," according to the motion recorded in the meeting. The motion passed with six members voting in favor and one member absent or recused (the transcript records the result as "We are 6 in favor and 1 absent or 1 recused").

The engagement is subject to contract negotiation and subsequent council approval of the employment terms; the transcript records no further details about salary, start date or contract terms.