Taylor named Town Manager for Winnsboro

A second vote will be taken on Tuesday at the regular monthly meeting of Town Council.

WINNSBORO – The Town of Winnsboro has announced the hiring of Jason Taylor as its town manager effective July 5, 2021. The announcement was emailed to The Voice at noon on Friday, April 9. 

Taylor, who currently serves as county administrator for Fairfield County, submitted his letter of resignation to the County on Thursday, April 8, effective June 7, 2021.

The Voice had not received an agenda for the Thursday meeting, which was a scheduled budget meeting, nor did the agenda, which was posted on the town website, make mention that a vote would be taken on the hiring. 

A town official said the vote was taken under the discussion of ‘Other Business,’ which, along with improper posting of the agenda and lack of notification to the public does not comply with the S.C. Freedom of Information statute. There was also no vote to add the item to the agenda, according to Mayor Roger Gaddy in an interview with The Voice on Friday.

“Councilman Danny Miller said at the meeting that he thought we should wait and vote on it at our regular meeting on Tuesday, but I thought it was best to get it over with and clear the air. We certainly didn’t mean any harm,” Gaddy told The Voice.

Learning that there were possible illegalities with the vote, Mayor Gaddy said he would ask Town Manager Don Woods to place the item on the agenda for a re-vote at the regular monthly town council meeting on Tuesday, at 6:15, at the Old Armory to make the hiring official.

“I guess Danny was right,” Gaddy said. “I should have listened to him. We certainly want to do it right. We are very much looking forward to having Jason come over to the town and don’t want any missteps.” 

Taylor was one of 28 applicants for the position.

This is a breaking story and more information will be available.