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There will be a special called meeting of the Southampton County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, July 19, in Courtland to discuss a personnel matter regarding the appointment of county attorney.

It will be a closed session.

Richard Edward Railey Jr. was hired by the Board of Supervisors as its first part-time county attorney in 1988 and served in that role for 35 years until his passing July 4.

The July 19 meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the Southampton County Office Center, will begin in open session, but County Administrator Brian S. Thrower explained that the board will then go directly into closed session.

“The primary purpose of the meeting is for the board to have timely discussion on this matter prior to next week’s regular meeting,” Thrower said.

Central District Supervisor and Board Chair Dr. Alan W. Edwards gave an idea of what to expect from the July 19 session.

“No definite action will be taken at this meeting,” he said. “We are going to take our time and sort out our options. This will be discussed in our regular meeting on Tuesday, July 25.”

Thrower noted that there is no legal time requirement or restriction on the board that he is aware of that would dictate a specific timetable for appointing a new county attorney.

“This is the Board of Supervisors’ appointment,” he said. “As such, the timeline and process are ultimately up to them.”