Rodney Strong
The County Commission on Wednesday delayed action on accepting the recommendation of Chief Magistrate Randy Russell that Rodney Strong be hired as a fill-in magistrate.
The panel also is considering whether to open two magistrate posts up for new applicants rather than just giving the two automatic new terms.
The Strong delay came after Commissioner Greg Martin questioned why the matter had not gone through the Security and Corrections Commission and why there was no resume.
Commissioner Greg Beck said in the past the naming of fill-ins had been based on the recommendation of the chief magistrate and no committee meeting had been held.
Chief Magistrate Randy Russell said attorney Strong, who recently left the district attorney's office, "is well qualified."
He would sit in for one of the four magistrates when they are unable to sit. The magistrates set bond and sign warrants from an office at the County Jail on Walnut Street.
The matter was referred to the Security and Corrections Committee, which is chaired by Commissioner Tim Boyd.
The terms of Chief Magistrate Russell and Magistrate Brandy Spurgin Floyd are up at the end of this month. In the past, when magistrates have said they have wanted to continue they have been allowed to do so.
However, Commissioners Jim Fields and Joe Graham said since the commission recently gave the magistrates a "huge" pay increase that a number of attorneys are interested in the post and they should be given a chance to apply.
Chairman Randy Fairbanks denied it was a "huge, huge, huge" increase and said, "We were just paying these people fairly."
He said if they "are doing a good job and want to continue," they should be retained.
The commission may pass a resolution extending their terms for about a month in order to give time for the application process, it was stated.