Hiram City council held a special called meeting earlier this week to consider the replacement of current City Manager Robbie Rokovitz. Rokovitz, who announced earlier this month, will step down on the 25th of this month. The council’s meeting agenda was to consider both the process for choosing an interim manager and for an executive session. Council members were expected to consider if an interim manager could be selected from current staff or if one would be chosen from outside.
City Clerk Cynthia Geyer, contacted by phone prior to the meeting, could not say if an interim manager would be named or not during the special called session.
But an interim manager would not be considered among candidates to take over the position permanently, according to Rokovitz, who also said the permanent manager would most likely start after the November election or early next year. Rokovitz was named and introduced as the council’s selection for city manager in August of 2012 and has served since then.
Rokovitz recently opted for an offer of a job in the private sector. As one of six candidates who interviewed for the job in 2012, Rokovitz’s resume included stints as city manager with Cedartown and Holly Springs, Ga. Prior to the selection of Rokovitz the council changed its charter to allow for the addition of a city manager and held several extra sessions as part of the process to select a candidate to take over the position permanently.
But Rokovitz added that regardless of who steps into the position the council-manager form of governing that the city adopted is a work in progress.
“They’re still struggling with the understanding of what the council-manager form of government is; they’ve got to get that understood or they’re going to have a hard time keeping a city manager -- and it’s in the best interest of that city to have a long-term city manager and not have a revolving door,” Rokovitz said.
Hiram’s second permanent manager will also begin with a somewhat changed city council with Council Post 3 being vacated by Teresa Philyaw, who has decided to run for mayor. Ms. Philyaw’s candidacy required her to resign her council seat.
Philyaw will challenge incumbent Mayor Doris Devey in the city's November election. A special election for her Post 3 seat is set for Nov. 3, in conjunction with the General Election and qualifying for the seat was scheduled through September 16, for the purpose of filling the unexpired term of Philyaw, as required by Georgia election law and the city’s charter. And two other council members may or may not return to work with the city’s next manager, as Incumbent Post 1 (At-large) Councilman Prather "Pep" Rollins is challenged by Frank Moran and (Incumbent) Council Post 2 (At-large) Kathy Bookout faces qualifiers Terrance White, Jerry Duncan and Billy Grant.

ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT (Left to right) Post 1 Councilman Prather "Pep" Rollins, Mayor Doris Devey, Council Post 2 Kathy Bookout and Council Post 3 Teresa Philyaw. Ms. Philyaw has decided to run against Ms. Devey for mayor. Both Bookout and Rollins face challenges in the November election.(Photo: submitted)