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Blythewood council hires Doug Polen as town manager, effective June 1
Summary
The Blythewood Town Council voted unanimously April 27 to hire Doug Polen as town manager effective June 1, 2026, directing the town attorney and interim manager to finalize the employment agreement after a closed-session personnel discussion.
The Blythewood Town Council voted 5-0 April 27 to hire Doug Polen as the town’s next manager, with the appointment effective June 1, 2026. Councilman R. McKenrick moved the hiring motion; Councilman D. Brock seconded it, and the council approved it by unanimous vote.
Council convened a closed executive session earlier in the meeting under S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-70 to discuss a personnel matter related to the town manager selection. After returning to open session, council gave authority to the Town Attorney and Interim Town Manager to finalize the employment agreement under the terms discussed in executive session.
The vote follows deliberations held in executive session where Deputy Simpson and Captain Wesley presented a Doko Meadows Park threat assessment and where the personnel discussion took place. Interim Town Manager Ed Driggers had been present earlier in the meeting and was asked to join the executive session, according to the meeting record.
No details of the employment package or negotiation terms were disclosed in open session. Council’s motion directed the town attorney and interim manager to complete the written agreement; the council did not discuss salary, benefits, or contract length in the public minutes.
The council adjourned at 9:23 p.m. with the hiring action recorded in the meeting minutes; Mr. Polen’s start date was listed as June 1, 2026.
