FRANKLIN
Following a discussion in closed session, Franklin’s City Council on Monday formally accepted City Manager R. Randy Martin’s letter of resignation with intent to retire, and named City Attorney H. Taylor Williams IV as interim deputy city manager.

Williams now has the authority to sign all necessary documents and manage the operations of the city until such time as the council hires a new interim city manager or a new permanent city manager. His new duties are in addition to his existing duties as city attorney and attorney to the city’s school board.

Mayor Frank Rabil explained that naming Williams as interim deputy manager will give the city the opportunity to continue with city business while the council and staff searches for an interim city manager and new permanent city manager.

“We hope to have the interim within the next couple of weeks,” Rabil said.

He also confirmed that it is the city’s intention that the person hired as interim city manager and the person hired as the new permanent city manager not be one in the same.

Rabil explained that for the interim city manager, the city intends to select an applicant who is a retired city or county administrator. This person would not be eligible to stay on permanently.

The council announced during a special called meeting on Thursday that it will begin interviewing candidates for interim city manager over the next 15 days in closed session in an undisclosed location.

As for the timeline for hiring a new permanent city manager, Rabil said that if all goes well, the city could have someone on board as early as within the next 60 to 90 days.

“We’re moving; we’re not sitting back and waiting,” he said.