Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos hits sudden stall as choice for Jefferson County manager

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama 

Petelos

Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos' selection as Jefferson County's first professional man­ager appeared in question late Thursday as two county commissioners said they were not prepared to vote next week.
Commissioners Sandra Little Brown and George Bowman said they need more time before the decision is made. Petelos needs a supermajority of votes -- four of the five commissioners -- to become county man­ager.
"I am not prepared to vote Tuesday," Bowman said. "It's too soon, too quick. It's not saying there's anything personal against him. Not at all. I think his credentials are impeccable. But for the county, it's too quick." Brown said she was impressed with Petelos and called him a great selection. However, she said she believes that "bringing a county manager on warrants five solid votes. Right now I don't see them in place. I don't think it would be a wise decision to bring it up on Tuesday. It has nothing to do with Mayor Petelos."
Petelos said he has no problems if commissioners need more time.
"That's fine," he said in a telephone interview Thursday night. "If they need me to answer any more questions I'll be glad to meet with them once again and answer any questions they may have or any concerns they may have."
Commission President David Carrington said he had been unaware that commissioners had concerns about the selection. He said all five commissioners voted to move the matter forward to the full commission during Wednesday's administrative services committee meeting, after Petelos spent nearly an hour answering questions.
Brown and Bowman said they ultimately could vote for Petelos but not next week.
They said the commission has a Sept. 16 deadline to decide whether to file for bankruptcy, reach a settlement with creditors or extend negotiations for a third time. Also, they said, the commission as a body still has not taken up the county's fiscal 2012 budget that contained, at last report, a $41 million shortfall. The fiscal year begins in three weeks.
A decision whether to place Cooper Green Mercy Hospital under a health care authority could also be made this month.
"All of these things need to be thoroughly reviewed," Brown said.
Commissioner Jimmie Stephens said he supports Petelos "100 percent" but can understand if some commissioners need more time to feel comfortable.
"I don't want anyone to think someone is being rammed down their throat," Stephens said. "This is too important a decision. We are trying to build a team and have a consensus. If they need a little bit more time to talk to Tony and feel more comfortable with him, be that as it may."
Commissioner Joe Knight said he also has questions that need to be answered but would be prepared to vote.
"I don't have some information -- the salary, the numbers of assistants," Knight said. "There are a couple of questions I need answered, but I'm ready to vote."
Carrington said he plans to speak with commissioners today, and no one had asked him to remove the matter from the agenda. However, the matter did not appear on the commission agenda for Tuesday that was made available Thursday.
Carrington said not to read too much into that.
Commissioners have taken positions ahead of meetings on some other issues and then changed their minds by the time the meetings took place.
After being told a formal offer would be made at next week's commission meeting, Petelos had said Wednesday he planned to accept an offer to become Jefferson County's first professional manager.
On Wednesday, Petelos said that should he become the county manager, he would step down as Hoover mayor on Sept. 30.