By Betsy Finklea
The Dillon County Council hired Clay Young as the Dillon County Administrator in a 4-3 vote on Monday, January 4, in a called meeting at the Dillon County Judicial Center.
Councilman Stevie Grice made the motion to hire Young and give him a two-year contract seconded by Councilman Harold Moody. Voting to hire Young were Grice, Moody, Chairman T. F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., and Councilman Christopher Miller. Voting against the motion were Councilwoman Detrice Dawkins, Councilman Gerome “Gee” McLeod, and Councilman Jamal Campbell.
Prior to the vote, the council went into executive session for the item listed on the agenda as administrator contract.
Upon returning from executive session, Grice made the motion to hire Young and Moody seconded it. A discussion followed.
Campbell said that he thought “It was very unfair for you guys to put on the table to hire an administrator when you just swore in three new councilmen who have not had time to adequately go through the application.” He added, “I think it is absurd you would do this.”
McLeod said that he would like to add for the record that at least more applicants came in this week, and they have not had the opportunity to at least review these applications. He said he would like to make a separate motion to table this matter for at least 30 days to review the candidates.
Finklea said he could not do that until the other motion was resolved.
Grice said that two applications had come in the day of the meeting (which was Monday) and one had come in the Friday before at 4:45 p.m. and none of them had any experience as a county administrator.
Campbell said another problem is that they haven’t given the new councilmen a chance to interview the man. Grice said he’s been here, but before he could finish his statement, Campbell said he wasn’t here, and there were two others who weren’t here.
Finklea asked if there was more discussion. When there was not, he called for the vote which is stated earlier in this article.
Young’s contract states the following: This contract dated January 4, 2021 between the County of Dillon, hereinafter called “Employer” and William Clay Young called “Employee”.
1) Employment: Employer hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby accepts employment upon the terms and conditions herinafter set forth.
2) Term: Subject to the provisions for termination as hereinafter provided, the term of this contract shall begin on January 4, 2021. If a new written contract is not agreed upon on or before January 4, 2023, then this contract shall terminate on January 4, 2023.
3) Compensation: For all services rendered by Employee under this contract, the Employer shall pay the employee a salary of One Hundred Ten Thousand and No/100 ($110,000.00) Dollars per year payable in equal bi-weekly installments. The Employee will also be eligible for any general merit or cost-of-living increases givn to all other employees.
4) Duties: Employee shall perform all statutory duties and functions of a County Administrator under the Council-Administrator form of governmewnt and any other lawful duties requested of him by the Dillon County Council.
5) Working Facilities: Employee shall be furnished with a private office and such support staff and other facilities as Dillon County Council deems adequate to perform the duties required of Employee.
6) Expenses: Employee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses and any other expense at the Employer’s traval and per diem rate provided such travel is pre-approved by Employer.
7) Vacations: The Employee shall accrue sick and annual leave at the same rate as all other Employees in the County. The Employer will also enable the Employee to accrue sick and annual leave at the rate an Employee with 12 years of service with Dillon County would be provided.
8) Termination: For Cause: Employer may terminate Employee for any of the following: A) Reporting to work while under the influence of intoxicants. B) Use of unlawful drugs. C) Unexcused absence from work above employee’s accrue vacation and sick leave days. Excused absences shall be approved by employer. Provided that employee shall be allowed sixty (60) days unexcused absence from work over and above employee’s accrued vacation and sick leave days if employee provides medical documentation that due to sickness, illness, or injury he is unable to work. D) Conviction of any crime for which Employee could be sentenced to jail other than minor traffic offenses. E) Failure to perform the duties as outlined in Paragraph 4 above.
In the event Employee is terminated for cause then no further compensation shall be due Employee by Employer.
Without Cause:
In the event Employer terminates Employee for any cause other than as listed above, then Employer shall pay Employee for the remainder of the contract period at the rate of pay in effect at the time of termination. Employer shall further pay Employee’s health and medical insurance, as provided to other Dillon County employees, for the remaining erm of this contract.
9) The Employee will maintain a residence in Dillon County while the Employee is Employed by the Employer. Should the Employee not maintain a residency in Dillon County the Employer has the right to terminate this contract.
10) Entire Agreement: This contract contains the entire agreement of the parties and may not be changed orally but only by agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification, extension, or discharge is sought.
