The Clinton City Council has hired Joey Meadors as the city new manager.
Action came Wednesday night after a closed session to discuss “employment matters related to the city manager search.”
His salary will be $135,000/annual, Clinton Mayor Randy Randall announced.
Council previously had authorized the mayor and legal counsel to negotiate a contract with one of three finalists. The other finalists announced by the city were Andy Howard, Laurens County parks, recreation and tourism director, and Will Riley, the city’s assistant city manager and human resources director.
The vote to hire Meadors, who had returned from retirement to lead the public works department when its director went to Fountain Inn, was 6-1. Council Member Anita Williams voted “no”. She did not make a statement about her opposition; and since all the discussions about the manager’s position were conducted in closed session, it was impossible to know individual council members’ positions on who should be hired.
Meadors replaces Tom Brooks, who left the position for an opportunity in private business.
The city’s finance director and assistant city manager, Carl Stevens, had been the interim city manager. The SC Municipal Association assisted in the search, vetting and narrowing a field of 69 applicants to 10, out of which the Clinton Council picked 5 - 2 of whom withdrew before the interview process which took place at Presbyterian College.
The city previously announced these requirements for a new city manager:
Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Urban Planning or a related field: a master’s degree is preferred.
Effective communication skills and a team-oriented approach are essential.
A minimum of three to five years of experience as a City or County Manager is preferred. Assistant City Managers with the required educational background and experience may also be considered.
Experience in utility management, particularly with electric systems, is a plus.
Earlier this month, Randall had said the council hoped to have a new manager in place prior to budget deliberations. Those start tonight (May 15) for the Clinton City Council, in a 6 p.m. budget workshop.
Before he retired in September, 2024, Meadors already had worked 45 years for the City of Clinton.
