November 7, 2022 |
The Saratoga Town Council will punt the decision about hiring a a new public works director to the incoming governing body in January.
Following Jon Winter’s resignation, the Town of Saratoga is operating without a public works director. During Tuesday’s town council meeting, Mayor Creed James asked his fellow councilmembers if they should try to fill Winter’s position or let the next council choose his replacement.
Voters will choose new faces for nearly every council seat in Tuesday’s election.
Mayor James was asked to fill the remainder of John Zeiger’s term after he resigned in 2020. Chuck Davis and current councilwoman D’Ron Campbell are running for mayor, as James has chosen not to try for a four-year stint.
Campbell is occupying the seat vacated by James when he became mayor. Her two-year term will also be decided in Tuesday’s election.
Neither Jon Nelson nor Ron Hutchins will run again this year. Nelson’s four-year term will end. Hutchins was appointed to fill a vacant two-year term, which also will end at the end of the year.
Kathy Beck is the only current council member who will remain in 2023. Beck was appointed in early September to fill Ben Spaulding’s chair after he resigned in July. Beck will serve the remainder of Spaulding’s term, which expires in 2024.
Councilman Hutchins, who has served as the council representative to the public works department during his term, said the subsequent council should have some say in who becomes the next public works director.
Mayor James said he agreed with Hutchins. The town will wait to fill Winter’s spot until the new council is sworn in.
Councilman Hutchins has reportedly been doing some of the administrative work at town hall related to public works since Winter’s exit. Veterans in the department with decades of experience are also picking up the slack.
Pictured above: File photo of Saratoga Town Hall/Police Department. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
