Stokes County hiring suspension is on -- Commissioners’ vote was split

(By Leslie Bray, The Stokes News) - There will be no regular hiring of county employees until the new budget goes into effect on July 1, 2011. This was the decision of the Stokes County Board of Commissioners at their regular Monday night meeting on Mar. 28.

Commissioner James Booth made the motion to approve Stokes County Manager Rick Morris’ proposal to suspend hiring unless there is a position he deems “mission critical.” Chair Ernest Lankford provided the second after a lengthy pause. Then the issue was discussed before the vote was taken.

Commissioner Ronda Jones added her yea vote to Booth’s and Lankford’s while Commissioner Jimmy Walker and Vice Chair Leon Inman voted no, making the vote 3-2 in favor of the suspension.