Harrelson departure leaves quest

Fred Chaney, former clerk and master, retired effective Nov. 30.

Harrelson took over for Niles the day after the commission vote.

The appointment left city officials with a decision about the future of the parks and recreation department. Harrelson is still owed an estimated $40,800 from the city, Maggie Hunt, city budget director, said.

“Steve obviously is a 31-year employee and has a lot of sick time built up under current city policy,” Tony Aikens, city mayor, said. “He has to be paid up to 960 hours for that sick time and, of course, he has the vacation that he’s got coming due to him. So that will take most of the rest of the payroll budget. ... Again, that’s policy that was established years ago.

“When you have an employee that’s worked every day and hadn’t taken much sick time, you build those hours up to a certain amount and policy states that an employee can get paid up to 960 hours, and some employees have more than that,” he added. “... I mean they’ve earned that time, that’s part of the benefit package.”

As of Monday it was unclear when Harrelson will receive the money owed, but Aikens said plans are to write a check for the full amount. Money will come out of the parks and recreation department’s payroll budget.

“It’s budgeted money. We’re not losing anything, we’re just paying him out,” Aikens said. “And if we hired somebody we’ve got to make up that $40,000 somewhere.”

Harrelson had a salary of $70,363 with the city department, according to the city budget.

Aikens anticipates discussions for what to do next won’t occur until sometime next year since there is no money to find a potential replacement. Zack Cusick, parks and recreation program coordinator, has picked up Harrelson’s duties and expressed interest in the job.

“When I say next year I’m talking about the next budget cycle, July 1, will be when the new money is available,” Aikens said.

Hopes are for Amber Scott, city administrator, to speak with Lenoir City Council members one-on-one to gauge their thoughts on where the city goes from here. That hasn’t occurred yet, Aikens said.

“It’s a slow season for parks and rec, so I don’t see a need to being in a big hurry to — I want to see what their feelings are, if they want to fill it or whatever the case may be,” Aikens said. “... Three of those city council people sets on a budget and three sets on personnel. I want to be sure that we get their input, and I’ve always operated that way and I’m going to continue to do so. Before I make any type of appointments, I want to make sure the vote support’s there.”

Eddie Simpson, who serves on the city’s budget committee, believes there is no rush to fill the position. He pointed toward the possibility of dividing duties among staff already in place.

“I feel like we probably have people on staff that’s going to be able to step up and continue like we’ve been doing without any new hires,” Simpson said. “That’s my preference — not to have a new hire. I think we will shift some duties around and be able to get the same performance out of mostly the same people.”

Jennifer Wampler, council member, agreed with Simpson that there was no rush.

“The thing about it is taking our time is we have done so much with parks and rec in the way that it’s expanded and grown,” Wampler said. “It’s gotten where every activity we do — I mean it’s just getting bigger and bigger and bigger, so you really don’t want to bring someone in that’s not aware of what’s what in the city. I think we’ll figure out, but I don’t know that it’s any rush because Zack can handle it.”

Aikens said all options should be “on the table.