Committee to help hire Amherst County administrator

AMHERST — The Amherst County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to ask several residents with human resource experience to serve on an advisory committee that will help select a new county administrator.

Claudia Tucker, a resident who is running for the board’s District 2 seat, wrote the board a letter requesting the formation of a committee. Supervisor Vernon Wood mentioned it to the board Tuesday on her behalf since she was not able to attend. Wood said he wasn’t opposed to forming such a committee.

The board agreed to seek the help of Mary Ann Mayhew, director of human resources for Amherst County Public Schools, and Lawrence Langhans, who serves on the county’s economic development authority, in serving the committee.

The county has been without an administrator since April 24 when Rodney Taylor resigned following conflicts with several board members.

Supervisors chose to discuss the hiring process of a new administrator during Tuesday’s meeting in open session rather than doing so in an originally scheduled closed meeting, but only with an understanding that names of applicants not be discussed.

Chairman Leon Parrish said he felt the board should eliminate all candidates who do not have administration experience. About 30 people applied for the position.

“As far as I’m concerned, we need to get on the fast track,” Parrish said of hiring an administrator. “I’m looking strictly for education and experience. If we don’t get right on this, it’s going to be a long time getting through this thing.”

The board discussed seeking the help of several surrounding county administrators to serve the committee but ultimately settled on county residents. Parrish said he considered the idea of going outside the county “a slap in the face to the people of Amherst County.”

Several residents continue to show discontent over the resignation of Taylor, who served the position since April 2006, and made them known Tuesday to the board.

“Forcing his resignation has effectively cut off the nose of this county to spite its face,” said Mary Hansen of Amherst.

Several board members have stood by the decision to ask for Taylor’s resignation. They said Taylor accused a supervisor of leaking confidential information involving a county employee.

The board authorized an investigation into the leak and J. Vaden Hunt, the county attorney, informed supervisors Tuesday he is awaiting the response of Virginia State Police. Meanwhile, Hunt said he plans to meet with Amherst Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Maddox later this week to discuss the criminal aspect of the leak and he will keep the board updated.