Warren County Supervisors Ramp Up Search for a Permanent County Administrator Replacement

On Tuesday afternoon, November 10th, the Warren County Board of Supervisors, minus one, Richard Jamieson, adjourned to a Special Meeting Closed Session to conduct the first three of six remote interviews for the County Administrator position. The second set of three interviews is slated for the following day, Wednesday, November 11th, at the same 4 p.m. starting time. Interviews were given a one-hour maximum time limit per applicant.

Like Tuesday, the Wednesday Special Meeting had no open meeting agenda items, and no announcements were anticipated from either Closed Session. Hugh Henry made the Tuesday motion into Closed Session, seconded by Tony Carter, and it passed 4-0.

Hugh Henry, far right, reads the 4-person board into Closed Session for remote interviews with first 3 of 6 County Administrator candidates to be heard from this week. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

That motion read, as it would the following day: “I move that the Board enter into a closed meeting under Section 2.2- 3711(A)(1) for the discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, salaries, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of the public body. The subject matter is virtual interviews for the position of County Administrator.”

If our numbers are right, former County Administrator Ed Daley gave 12 months’ notice of his intent to retire in November or December of 2024. Brad Gotshall was hired to succeed Daley on September 11, 2025. Daley continued with the County as a consultant at the outset of Gotshall’s tenure. If we remember correctly, that tenure was brief, as the move from his Pennsylvania home created unanticipated personal conflicts.

That led to the appointment of Dr. David Martin as Interim County Administrator. When Martin’s tenure ended earlier this year, the county appointed Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows as Interim County Administrator. However, Meadows made it clear that she was not interested in the position permanently at this point in her career.

And so the search for a permanent replacement continues under Meadows’ interim watch.

Following the motion to close, the board moved down the hall from the WCGC’s main meeting room to a Conference Room, door to the left, because a staff meeting was in the adjacent regular Closed Session room.