Warrenton council interviews for interim town manager

By James Ivancic, Times Staff Writer

The Warrenton Town Council will discuss whether it wants to hire one of two applicants for interim town manager during a work session Thursday with the goal of making an offer to one at its regular meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Former Warrenton Interim Town Manager Cole Hendrix and former Manassas City Manager Larry Hughes remain under consideration for the job after John McCarthy dropped out. McCarthy is senior adviser and director of strategic partnerships for the Piedmont Environmental Council and a former Rappahannock County administrator.

Cole Hendrix

Larry Hughes

In a Nov. 27 email to Warrenton Mayor Carter Nevill and Stephanie Miller, director of finance and human resources, McCarthy said he thought Hendrix and Hughes “can commit their obvious skills and better adjust their schedules to council’s needs than can I.”

“I am relieved that there are two such qualified candidates,” he added.

Hendrix and Hughes both had long careers as full-time public administrators and now fill interim roles when they come available. Hughes most recently was interim town manager in Lovettsville and before that was the interim general manager of the Fauquier Water and Sanitation Authority.

Hendrix served as interim town manager in Warrenton for several months in 2015 before former Town Manager Brannon Godfrey was hired. The town council released Godfrey from his contract in late October.

Nevill and the town council interviewed Hendrix and Hughes Thursday, Nov. 29, during an open session at the Warren Green Building in Warrenton.

Hughes was there in person, while Hendrix was interviewed by phone. Each answered the same list of questions posed by temporary Town Manager Edward “Bo” Tucker and then answered questions posed by individual council members. Councilman Kevin Carter (Ward 5) was absent, but all other council members were present.

Hughes and Hendrix explained their management styles and how they would interact with staff, council and the public. Their answers differed regarding the hiring of a new police chief. An interim chief has led the department since former Police Chief Lou Battle retired last spring.

Hughes said he thought the interim town manager could begin the recruiting process for a new police chief but that the interviewing and hiring should be left to the permanent town manager.

Hendrix said: “It may be six or seven months before a full-time manager is hired. I would think you’d want to hire a chief of police” before then. “You could hire a search firm, I would do the interviewing and would keep council advised. I would keep the commonwealth’s attorney apprised. I would involve the council so that it knows. It can be done if council wants to do it without delay.”

The town manager can hire department heads without the town council’s approval. Commonwealth’s Attorney James Fisher had criticized the search process Godfrey led for a new town police chief.

Fisher said in a letter to Nevill that he was asked for his input too late in the process.

Council’s work session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 at town hall, 18 Court St.

Council will also hear a presentation of a financial audit of town government, receive a presentation from AT&T about the FirstNet network for use by first responders and discuss proposed new regulations for signs and food trucks.

Reach James Ivancic at jivancic@fauquier.com