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Politics & Government

Hiram's Interim City Manager Takes Oath

Billy Beckett brings three and a half decades of city manager experience to Hiram.

Attendees to Tuesday’s Hiram City Council meeting were introduced to new interim City Manager Billy Beckett. He was introduced and sworn in by Mayor Doris Devey.

Beckett, who actually began on Monday, is being retained through the month of August, and will serve through a transition that would eventually see a permanent hire to the position. But while Beckett would assist in the selection process, he would not be among candidates for the permanent job, Beckett said after Tuesday’s meeting.

Beckett was favored for the job based on his résumé that includes 35 years of experience as both an interim city manager and as city manager, and a long résumé throughout the state.

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Devey following Tuesday’s meeting said that Beckett will bring a lot of knowledge and expertise to the table as the council works toward approving the city’s fiscal year 2013 budget.

Beckett said that among the priorities for his stint in Hiram, he would strive to help councilmen identify what characteristics they would most value in a city manager and what other job-specific skills and salary range they envision for whomever takes over in the permanent position.

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Councilmen then approved an agenda item re-titling City Administrator Cynthia Geyer to city clerk as part of the transition process of adding a city manager.

In February, to allow for the addition of a city manager to the payroll. The amendment to the city charter then was required to be submitted as a piece of legislation before state lawmakers—, and Gov. Nathan Deal .

Councilmen Tuesday also passed an agenda item that will allow the budget process regarding fiscal year 2012 and fiscal year 2013 to continue onto its next stage on the strength of financial compilation reports reviewed during the council’s May 31 work session. Beckett told the council Tuesday that “… in a perfect world, you would adopt your [FY2013] budget prior to July 1.”

The agenda item passed Tuesday also specified that further review of issues associated with the city’s FY2011 budget will be discussed during the council’s next work session later this month.

The council also approved an agenda item to adjust city-owned vehicle inventory, and another to accept a vehicle donation to the police department. Another approved measure extended the date by when City Operations Manager Jody Palmer can publish a job posting to recruit an employee to be attached to clean-up duties at .

And the council approved a new alcohol license for beer and wine sales at ALDI, located at 5746 Wendy Bagwell Parkway.

Prior to the appointment of Beckett as city manager, the council held a public hearing regarding the adoption of the 2012 zoning ordinance for the city. There was no public input during the allotted time. Paulding County Planning Commission held their public hearing for the Hiram ordinance on May 22 and made no recommendation.

 

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