Only moments after the Bryan County Board of Commissioners accepted the resignation of current County Administrator Phillip Jones during their meeting at the Bryan County Administrative Complex Tuesday, they voted unanimously to name south Bryan resident Ray Pittman as his successor.
“I’ve got some big shoes to fill,” Pittman said afterward. “I am very happy. I think it will be very rewarding; it will be challenging, but also very rewarding.”
Pittman and William (Jason) Tinsley, the current Assistant County Administrator/Finance Director for Habersham County, had been named as the two finalists for the job on Sept. 18.
The original field of 25 candidates was screened and charted by Jones, who presented them to the commissioners as a list.
“That list was reduced to approximately seven by the board; all of those were interviewed,” Jones said.
According to Jones, he, County Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed, and Commissioners Carter Infinger and Jimmy Henderson participated in either all or some of the interviews.
Jones added that because it is often difficult to get all the commissioners together at one time, interviews for department head positions in the Bryan County government are commonly conducted by a committee which then makes its recommendations to the entire board.
There is no requirement for the entire board to interview candidates he said. However, any commissioner who wishes to participate can. However, if they all do, or enough to make a quorum do, a meeting would have to be called.
Pittman has worked for Thomas and Hutton Engineering in Savannah for 27 years as an engineer and is a principal in the organization. He has an extensive background in sewer and water design/construction and has lived in Bryan County since 1986.
He also chaired the committee that developed the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the SPLOST and TSPLOST committees.
Jones’ resignation becomes effective Dec. 31 of this year.