Board approves director position in split decision
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 4, 2016 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Wayne County Commissioner Joe Gurley, right, questions hiring a communications and marketing director to be shared with the city of Goldsboro. At left is Chairman Joe Daughtery, who supported the move that was approved by a 4-2 vote, with Gurley and Commissioner Ray Mayo voting no.
Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning split 4-2 to approve hiring a marketing director who would be shared with the city of Goldsboro.
The Goldsboro City Council unanimously approved the intergovernmental agreement to create the position at its Monday night session.
The marketing and communications director would be appointed, supervised, and evaluated by the county manager, with the concurrence of the city manager.
The office would oversee advertising, media relations, assist with speech writing and even provide training for making public presentations that would promote and market the county.
It would be housed in the county's existing public affairs offices, where the previous public information officer was located. The city may provide office space as well for when the director works on projects there.
County Manager George Wood reminded commissioners they had eliminated the county's public information position more than a year ago.
"But we have discussed the need to have more information prepared on a consistent basis that better informs the public about what the county is doing and the services it provides," he said. "This shared position would do that and at a much lower cost than the previous PIO (public information officer) position.
"We have discussed for several months, and during the budget deliberations, the need to better market Wayne County. In an effort to reduce the costs of a position, we have been in discussions with the city of Goldsboro regarding the sharing of this position. We looked at contracting this work, but that would be far more expensive than this option. It is really to do a better job of getting your story out, all of the things that are going on."
The county budgeted $30,000 for the position in the current budget. However, depending on the level of experience the county can attract, that may need to increase to about $35,000 to $40,000, when benefits are included, Wood said.
The city will match the required amount.
Commissioner Joe Gurley and Ray Mayo, both of whom voted no, questioned the need and concerns about it being a shared position. Commissioner Wayne Aycock, who did not attend the meeting, has also previously voiced reservations about the position.
They were worried as well about a provision that in order to avoid any conflicts of interest, the city and county agree that the director cannot "prepare, or assist in preparing, information in any format for one that is negative" toward the other. It adds that the director is "to remain neutral, and abstain from participation in any issue that may arise between the parties where they disagree on a course of action."
Gurley agreed that the county could spend just as much or as least money that it wanted.
"I just have concerns," he said. "When you bring on another employee, you have expanded government, and then the $30,000 turns into $35,000 turns into $40,000. Then benefits come along with it. Then you are stagnated with one person. If you go with an outside agency, you have strength in numbers. I just think it is better strength going outside."
Mayo reiterated his stand that there are other entities, including the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and Wayne County Development Alliance, that already promote and market the county.
"If we in a partnership with Goldsboro, there will come a time when we are going to disagree," Mayo said. "It could be a big disagreement. You said this person needs to be neutral. Well, to me, if this person is neutral -- is that an injustice to what is being put out to our citizens of the county? Are they going to get a true story, or are they going to have to get it from us as commissioners walking the streets in our communities?
"My point is that I have that concern, but I also know that Commissioner Gurley had asked for some information a month ago that hasn't been fulfilled, and I am wondering have we really vetted this the way that we should as far as maybe having a work session that we could talk about it. Seems like this has come up and all of a sudden it is before us. We have talked about it, but we have not gone into depth."