County Announces Special, Closed Meeting on County Administrator Search Process

The Warren County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a Special, Closed meeting to discuss the selection of a recruitment company or companies to lead the County’s search for a long-term County Administrator. That meeting will be held at 2 p.m., July 14, at the County Government Center.

Readers will recall that the board terminated the contract of Interim County Administrator Dr. David Martin following a closed session on June 23rd. As reported at the time, the termination and installation of Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows into the interim position, as the open meeting convened, appeared to be financially based. It was also noted that Deputy Administrator Meadows has indicated she is not interested in the lead administrator’s position on a permanent basis at this time.

Deputy and now Interim County Administrator Jane Meadows at the Admin staff table with County Attorney Jason Ham after being installed to replace Dr. David Martin in the interim position on June 23rd. Royal Examiner File Photos Roger Bianchini

We reached out to the Warren County Finance Department for related information, including how many professional search firm applications the County has received and how many it is expected to select for participation at the final level. However, we had not gotten a reply by publication. It is likely such feedback would have been limited as illustrated in the motion into Closed Session for July 14. That motion as found on the County website reads: “I move that the Board enter into a closed meeting under Section 2.2- 3711(A)(29) for the Discussion of the award of a public contract involving the expenditure of public funds, including interviews of bidders or offerors, and discussion of the terms or scope of such contract, where discussion in an open session would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. The subject matter is Recruitment services for the County Administrator position.”

Background Overview

In explaining the sudden and publicly unexpected, at least to members of the general public, and divided 3-2 board approval (Cullers and Henry dissenting) of Dr. Martin’s immediate termination of June 23, this reporter wrote this overview:

“The June 23rd open ‘Regular Meeting’ of the Warren County Board of Supervisors convened at 6 p.m. got off to a somewhat irregular start out of the 5 p.m. Closed Session.” That Closed Session was convened to discuss the status of the County Administrator position. That open meeting ‘irregular start’ was the passage of a motion by Tony Carter, seconded by John Stanmeyer, to terminate the contract of Interim County Administrator David Martin ‘effective immediately’. Dr. Martin’s hiring was announced on September 18, 2025. So, he was on the job a little over 9 months.”

“Passage of that motion by a 3-2 vote, Cheryl Cullers and Hugh Henry dissenting, led to Martin’s rising from the Administrative staff table and departing directly out of the meeting room. No farewell or thank yous from the board or Martin.”

Dr. David Martin, left, at the Admin staff table with County Attorney Jason Ham prior to the convening of the Open Meeting of the WC BOS on June 23rd.

As reported at the time, “That divided action was followed by unanimous approval of Deputy County Administrator Jane Meadows appointment to fill the Interim Administrator’s position, also immediately.” That motion by Tony Carter, with a second by Richard Jamieson, approved Meadows’ appointment to the Interim position at an annual salary of $181,500. Information from the County website indicated that Dr. Martin would be paid a salary of about $200,000 if he were in the position for a year.

However, as we noted at the time, “Information gathered was that Dr. Martin had alerted the board that for personal reasons he would have had to resign by around mid-August. So, it appears the movement on the Interim Administrator’s position may have largely been a cost-saving decision, even if that savings will only be in place for about 7 weeks. Board discussion also indicated concerns about reinstituting a contractual search program.” — Which brings us back to the pending Special Meeting, Closed Session of July 14.

The County supervisors at work on June 23, as they ponder the most affordable way forward in selecting the next, not-interim county administrator.

So, stay tuned, local municipal government drama fans, to see how that narrowing down of the top candidates to complete that selection process progresses toward a final selection to replace former County Administrator Ed Daley, whose retirement set this whole process in motion about a year ago.