The City of Georgetown will begin 2013 without a permanent administrator.

City leaders have been trying since June to find someone to fill the seat left vacant in May when Chris Eldridge left that position to become the Horry County administrator.

Since June, Carey Smith of Rock Hill — being paid $500 per day plus a housing allowance — has occupied the seat as an interim administrator. His contract — which was supposed to expire last week — has been extended through mid-February.

Earlier this month Mayor Jack Scoville announced the field of candidates — which began with more than 220 applications — was reduced to four finalists.

They were Christopher Carter, currently the Williston administrator; Rose Dobson-Elliott, former administrator for Bamberg County; Bryan Hill, deputy county administrator in Beaufort County; and Daniel Wells, Kingstree town administrator.

Smith said Thursday two of the finalists — Hill and Wells — are no longer in the running for the position.

However, he said that does not necessarily mean Carter or Dobson will get the job. He said at least two more names may be added to the list of finalists.

Council met for about an hour Monday to discuss the four finalists but expect to resume the talks after January 1.

“Council still has discussions going on regarding applicants,” Smith said. “They are not prepared to make a decision as a result of the interviews held so far. They are now looking at a larger group of candidates.”

Scoville said once additional candidates are contacted and if they are still interested in the job, their names will be released if they are named as finalists.

“There will be a second round of interviews scheduled after the first of the year,” Smith said, adding he expects “no more than three” names will be added to the list.

Compensation has been one of the sticking points in the talks, Smith said.

The city is also ending the year without a finance director or a director for the Building and Planning Department. Both of those posts have also been open most of the year.

Currently, the accounting firm of Smith Sapp Bookhout Crumpler & Calliham is handling the city’s finances at a cost of $85 per hour.

The city is accepting applications for the finance director’s position until the end of the month. The current salary range is $62,568-$87,082.

Council is still trying to decide whether to hire a new Building and Planning director or combine that position with another job.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com