Opinion Editorial

Gone and In

Currituck’s chief building inspector, Bill Newns, has been named interim Director, Planning & Inspections following the resignation of Kevin Kemp. The position is crucial; Currituck is one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina and Hampton Roads, VA. Kemp resigned to pursue other career opportunities.

No cultivating

The Planning & Inspections Director should not be a “homegrown” position but instead advertised throughout the region for the best possible candidate. The ideal candidate will already have broad experience in all areas of responsibility. A candidate should be able to look at a proposed wastewater treatment plant and make the right critical decisions and recommendations to the county manager and commissioners.

Minimum requirements

The advertisement says candidates should have, at a minimum: “Masters degree in urban or regional planning from a recognized and accredited university, and six to nine years of experience in rural or regional planning at the local government level in a management level position; AICP Certification preferred; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.”

No hands in the air

None of these requirements should be waived, as with the previous planning director to Kemp.

The county commissioners are not subject matter experts on some facets of the county. They must rely on experienced and competent staff to advise them on issues, concerns, proposals, and projects. Absent expert advice, commissioners can waste tens of thousands and even millions of tax dollars on ill-advised projects. The Moyock Waster Treatment Plant, Moyock Mega Site, and ill-advised and unnecessary litigation (digital billboard) come to mind.

Less competent does not equal incompetent

It’s the county commissioners holding the bag for decisions they make based on advice from less competent staff. In one recent hiring, commissioners canceled a nationwide search and hired from within because “we need someone who knows the county.” That, unfortunately, is the wrong reason to hire. Fresh eyes with broad experience in the job are always the best choice.

Summary

The county is in a position, if appropriately handled, to hire a candidate for Planning & Inspections Director who is experienced in myriad facets of Planning in a fast-growing county. The right candidate could look at various factors, from school capacity, emergency services, parks, public works, wetlands and drainage, and more, in making recommendations to the county manager and commissioners.

Planning & Inspections Director Recruitment Announcement