Dear Editor,
Why doesn’t the North Augusta City Administrator live in North Augusta? Mr. Clifford was hired as the city administrator on August 17, 2020. The contract for him provided in part “[w]ithin the first three (3) years of Mr. Clifford’s employ he shall establish residence within the City limits.” First of all, the City Council and the Mayor don’t have the authority to waive the residence requirement established by their own ordinance. City ordinance 2-101 [Administrator] Qualifications, provides in part: “At the time of appointment, the city administrator need not be a resident of the city or state, but during such tenure of office, shall reside within the city.”
Opinion
Where does the administrator live? In a gated community in Columbia County, Georgia. He drives vehicles with Georgia license plates. He is registered to vote in Georgia, and last voted there in November 2022. The first three years of his contract expired on August 17, 2023, yet he still holds all the indicia of residency in Georgia. Notice that city residency is a “Qualification” for the job. If he is not qualified, then it calls into question the validity of any actions he may take on behalf of the city.
If the City council and the mayor want to ignore the ordinances of the City then what does that tell the City’s residents? That they can ignore the city’s ordinances? If Council no longer think residency is a qualification for City Administrator, then by all means go through the process to amend the ordinance. Better yet, tell the Administrator to comply with city ordinances. The Mayor’s duties include acting “to ensure that all laws, provisions of this Code, and ordinances of the council, . . . are faithfully executed.” That doesn’t mean pick and choose which ordinances you like to enforce.
Stephen Donohue
North Augusta, S.C.
