The Russellville Water and Sewer Board approved the hiring of Stephanie Rogers to fill a new position of accountant/bookkeeper at its April 17th meeting.
Rogers was selected from a pool of 24 candidates described as “outstanding” by Water and Sewer Board General Manager Doug Clement.
“We interviewed seven candidates and carried the top three applications to the board and the board picked the final applicant and hired her,” Clement said.
Rogers, who holds a Masters Degree in accounting, will begin her employment in early May, Clement said, after working out a two-week notice at her present employer.
At a special meeting Tuesday, the board met in executive session for nearly 90 minutes before emerging to hire Rogers. Rogers is the daughter of board chairman Dan Terry.
Terry recused himself from both the executive session and the board vote from among the final three candidates. Clement said Terry would recuse himself from any future matters regarding Rogers' duties, salary or any issues related to her employment.
The other four board members, Dick Tutich, Joe Graham, Wanda Myrick and Harold Mitchell, unanimously voted to hire Rogers.
“If there are ever any issues that have to do with her, Dan will recuse himself every time and the other four board members will handle any situation like that,” Clement said. “As general manager, I would carry any issue to the board and I'll deal with her as I deal with any other employee. We don't expect any issues, but if there is one, he will recuse himself and the remaining board members will handle it.”
Pat Seal, Joint Office Manager for Russellville Utilities, presently handles bookkeeping duties for the Water and Sewer Board in addition to handling the monthly billing for the Russellville Electric Board, Russellville Gas Board and Russellville Water and Sewer Board. Seal will retire later this year.
Joint office manager applicants will be interviewed by a board consisting of representatives from all three boards and the final hiring decision will be made by all board members.
When Seal's replacement is hired, he or she will no longer handle bookkeeping for the Water and Sewer Board, Clement explained.
“This new position is a very important one for the Water and Sewer Board,” Clement said. “All I want is to see is the lifeblood of the Russellville Water and Sewer Board continue in a manner it has since 1942. We want the finances handled in a professional way and wanted someone to answer to the manager.
“The board was very deliberate and very purposeful in trying to get the right thing done with this hire,” Clement added.
