Local Radar

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Pettigrew lands $75,000 salary as county administrator
Base salary for position advertised as $64,000

web posted October 28, 2006
COUNTY – With the news of John Pettigrew Jr. being hired as the new Edgefield County Administrator reported by EdgefieldDaily.com, more information has now been learned about the votes including Mr. Pettigrew’s salary, a whopping $75,000 a year, $11,000 more than the advertised starting pay of $64,000. A voice vote was taken to establish Mr. Pettigrew’s salary. The hiring process was taken by secret ballot. Everett Kitchens made the motion on the salary and the vote passed. However, there still is confusion among council members as to how votes were taken at the meeting and who voted for what.

County Councilman Joel Hudson was forthcoming in his votes, “I voted against him (Pettigrew), I felt Mr. Carpenter was the best qualified.” Mr. Hudson stated he felt the most qualified, “by far”, was Mr. Carpenter and Ms. Parks with their degrees and years of experience. Mr. Hudson explained that the hiring was taken by the secret ballot and the salary and conditions were voted on by voice vote. “I don’t think (Chairman Kneece) even asked for opposing votes,” on the salary Mr. Hudson said.

County Councilman Norman Dorn was not as forthcoming as his counter part. When asked how he voted, both on the hiring and then the salary, Mr. Dorn said, “It ain’t none of your business. I don’t have to tell you who I voted for President (of the United States) and I don’t have to tell you how I voted on this.” Mr. Dorn was reminded that all of his votes taken as a county councilman are open record by law. “I don’t care, it ain’t none of your business,” Dorn said just before hanging up the phone.

Bettis Academy’s Willie Bright, vice-chairman, said he voted in the voice vote to confirm the $75,000 salary and asked, “why do you think it wasn’t enough, should it have been higher?” Mr. Bright confirmed the earlier report that the vote to hire Mr. Pettigrew was taken by secret ballot while explaining the vote on the salary, “He (Pettigrew) was already hired by then, that was just his salary we voted on,” Bright said, “Why, did we break the law?” Mr. Bright did not disclose whom he voted for in the hiring process.

District Two councilman Everett Kitchens made the motion on the salary and six month probation period and supported the measure with an affirmative voice vote. There still has been no indication of his vote on the selection of Mr. Pettigrew. Mr. Kitchens was unable to be reached Friday afternoon for comment.

Chairman Monroe Kneece did not return a message left at his home seeking his comments. Acting Administrator Barbara Stark produced the written ballots for inspection Friday. The final vote on the administrator was two votes for Mr. Carpenter and three votes for Mr. Pettigrew. The council members voting to hire Mr. Pettigrew remain unknown.
 


 

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