by Scotty Wampler
Staff Reporter
  Three candidates for director of the Buchanan County Department of Social Services were interviewed again Monday night, this time by the newly-reorganized administrative board, even though a memo from the regional office passed on a state recommendation that the board re-advertise the post before hiring a director.
  One board member objected to the interview process, but was out-voted on the issue by the others.
  Monday's meeting was the first for the newly organized board, recently appointed when the board of supervisors dissolved the old DSS advisory board and re-initiated the administrative board form of governance.
  In the search for a director, Judy Holland, Brenda Jackson and Tammy Fields were questioned individually during a closed-door interview process that lasted more than two hours. Two additional candidates will be interviewed by the board later this month.
  Though the board first attempted to enter closed session for personnel matters to discuss and interview the candidates, and to consult with board attorney Vern Presley, Prater district board member Paul Hayes objected, citing concerns related to a letter from interim Buchanan DSS Director Sherina Justus stating that recommendations had been received through the regional office from the Virginia Department of Social Services Human Relations Department in Richmond which recommended the local board re-advertise the vacant directors position due to the six-month span that had passed without filling the position.
  Interviews for the post were conducted some six months ago. At that time, the top candidates were ranked by the interview panel, but in the interim period, as the DSS board make-up has changed from administrative to advisory and back to administrative, a new director has not been hired.
  "I need some direction," Hayes said at Monday night's meeting, adding that, being new to the board, he was unsure of his exact responsibilities as a board member and wished for further clarification.
  Hayes further expressed concern related to the letter from the regional and state office recommending the post be re-advertised.
  E-mail correspondence between DSS Western Regional Director Tony Fritz and DSS Department of Human Relations Daphne Reid obtained by the Mountaineer after Monday night's meeting contained a specific recommendation from Reid that the post be re-advertised.
  "Due to the length of time it is taking to fill this position and with the change to the board, it is recommended that the position be re-advertised," Reid wrote. "This will give the new board the opportunity to hire the most qualified application for the director position. Also, it is recommended that the interview panel be diverse in sex and race."
  The first interview panel which ranked five candidates was comprised of the Russell and Tazewell County DSS directors, Fritz and Buchanan County Administrator W.J. Caudill.
  Farmer echoed Hayes' hesitation at a closed session on the issue.
  "Why would we need to be closed for that?"  Farmer asked, regarding the necessity to discuss the candidates behind closed doors.
  Knox District Board Member Tolbert Prater, a hold-over member from the advisory board, who was elected chairman Monday night (see related story this issue) instructed Farmer that personnel matters could not be discussed in open session.
  Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, closed sessions are not required for discussion of any topic, however they are allowed for some topics. Personnel is one of the allowable topics for closed-door session.
  Ultimately, despite Reid's recommendation, the board opted to conduct the interviews in closed session on a 6-1 vote to close the doors. Hayes cast the lone vote of dissent.
  Prior to that session, the board went into closed session on a unanimous vote to seek legal advice from Presley related to board responsibilities.
  Later in the evening, immediately following the first closed session discussion, Garden district board member Laura Elkins made a motion to re-enter closed session to begin conducting interviews with the director candidates.
  Following the lengthy interviews, the board reconvened in open session to announce two other candidates would be interviewed at a continued meeting on January 29 at 5 p.m.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  To subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.