City Council mum about closed-door session today

The Waynesboro City Council will go into closed session to discuss the appointment of a new city manager at a special called meeting today. 

Interim City Manager Mike Hamp, along with the council, called for the meeting to discuss the possible appointment.

Hamp has been the interim city manager since July 1, when the new council was seated, and after former City Manager Doug Walker resigned under pressure from the new council majority of Mayor Tim Williams, Vice Mayor Frank Lucente and Ward B Councilman Bruce Allen.

A severance and benefits package was expected to be part of the discussions in the city manager search. Lucente said at the time that Walker’s six-month severance package was fine, but his benefits package was “a little excessive.” Overall, Walker received a lump-sum check for $128,437.66. Walker’s severance and benefits package was normal for city managers, experts said.

The council held a closed session Sept. 8 to discuss the city manager position. A closed session was on the agenda for the council’s most recent meeting on Sept. 22, but was not held because councilwomen Lorie Smith and Nancy Dowdy were not in attendance.

Reached Monday, Lucente and Allen declined comment on whether a new city manager would be named.

“We’re going in and we’re going to be discussing the city manager position,” Allen said. 

Hamp, Mayor Tim Williams and councilwomen Lorie Smith and Nancy Dowdy did not return calls by late Monday afternoon seeking comment.

The council filled one vacant position on Sept. 8 by hiring Todd Patrick to be city attorney. Patrick begins work Nov. 3. The council still has to fill a vacancy after Meghan Williamson stepped down in August as the city’s economic development director.

The meeting will be held at 8 a.m. in the council chambers of the Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building at 503 West Main Street.