Fulton County’s manager could be working in a neighboring county within the next few months, if DeKalb’s county commission votes Tuesday to hire him.
Zachary Williams, who has led daily government operations in Fulton since 2008, would replace chief operating officer Richard Stogner, who is retiring in January. The salary would be $236,000 – the same as Stogner’s but $36,000 more than what Williams now earns.
“He is an extremely good candidate with 22 years of government experience and I am optimistic the Board of Commissioners will agree and confirm this important position,” DeKalb chief executive Burrell Ellis said of his recommendation.
The job, also known as the county’s executive assistant, is a de facto county administrator for DeKalb. Unlike Fulton, Cobb and Gwinnett, where a professional manager handles daily operations, an elected CEO runs DeKalb in the same way a story mayor runs a city.
The chief operating officer serves as second in command and reports to both the CEO and county commission. Several commissioners told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday that they have concerns about how Williams would adjust to the split government as well as not being in full control.
There is also the question of Fulton’s reputation, battered for missteps such as this week’s election problems and, in 2008, the death of a Johns Creek woman after a mishandled 911 call.
“I have no made up my mind yet,” Commissioner Elaine Boyer said. “There are still a lot of questions.”
If he is approved, Williams could view the move as a step up. Fulton provides direct services to just about 50,000 residents because most residents there live in cities.
DeKalb, like Cobb and Gwinnett, provides services to nearly three out of every four residents, or about 525,000 people. DeKalb also has 6,607 full-time employees, to Fulton’s 4,960.
The job also affords plenty of power. Stogner, for instance, has been key in developing the county’s most recent budgets and has agreed to stay on if necessary for a February vote on the 2013 spending plan.
That budget, to be unveiled in December, is expected to include major cuts to make up a projected $35 million budget gap.
“I think Mr. Williams is qualified but we want to make sure as a board that he understands what he is up against in DeKalb with our fiscal situation,” said Commissioner Larry Johnson. “He has to hit the ground running.”
The commission meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Maloof Auditorium in downtown Decatur to discuss the hiring.
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