Questions raised about resignations as Lang leaves

By Randy Bell

For the second time in just over a year, the City of Clinton is in the market for an economic development director. Daniel Lang resigned to take a similar position with more pay in Flowood. And that’s becoming a familiar refrain in Clinton—department heads leaving for positions in other cities, state government or private business.

Lang is the third department head to resign since July, following in the footsteps of former Parks and Recreation Director Adam Wade and former Communications and Tourism Director Amanda Jones. Wade took a position at the Baptist Healthplex in Clinton, and Jones now works for Continental Tire.

“While Daniel was happy here, he was offered significantly more money,” said Mayor Phil Fisher. “It was too good of a deal to pass [up]. I told him ‘you need to jump on this.’ I wish him the best, and I know he’s going to do well.”

Lang said, “I have enjoyed working with business leaders, fellow colleagues and outstanding citizens to promote and enhance Clinton for many years to come. I believe we are on the right trajectory for exponential growth for the City with projects like the Mississippi College project [The Village], Hampstead Boulevard and more quality of life opportunities coming to Olde Towne.”

Lang had served in Clinton since October of 2021. He replaced Gabriel Prado, who resigned in August of 2021 after almost two and a half years on the job.

“The issue is money,” the mayor said.

Alderwoman-at-Large Ricki Garrett disagrees.

“Although Mayor Fisher wants to blame their departures on low salaries, that is not why we are losing them. Everyone wants to work in a place where they are appreciated, supported and treated with dignity and respect,” Garrett said. She said the Board of Aldermen is committed to making sure the City’s department heads are “given the authority they need to do their jobs.”

The rash of department heads leaving the City is “very alarming,” according to Ward 6 Alderman James Lott, who voiced concerns similar to Garrett’s.

“I feel that every City employee, specifically the department heads, deserves to be able to work in a healthy, productive and non-toxic work environment free from being ridiculed and disrespected.”

He said positive work environments “cultivate creativity and initiative.” Lott said, “If this problem is to be fixed, everyone must be on board with fixing it.”

Fisher said he thinks a personnel policy that Garrett has proposed – instead of giving department heads the authority they need to do their jobs – would have the opposite effect.

“Her personnel policy takes any and all control of the day-to-day operations from both the mayor and the department heads.”

And if people were resigning because of his management style, “they would have left for the same money” instead of waiting for big pay raises elsewhere, Fisher said.

“This Board has talked about department head salaries but [has] taken no action,” Fisher said. “Some have expressed a belief that the department heads are paid more than enough.” He said none of the departing employees mentioned any issues other than money and that their new employers initiated the discussions about changing jobs.

Ward 2 Alderman Jim Martin said a responsibility like economic development director can become “overwhelming” when the employee is not permitted to take advantage of all of the City’s resources.

“Our past two economic development directors, who have a huge and important task, have not been allowed to confide in and request assistance and advice from aldermen,” Martin said.
Martin said, while some projects require confidentiality, Board members have experience and contacts which could benefit the City’s economic development efforts.

“We are very sorry to see Daniel Lang leave,” said Ward 4 Alderman Chip Wilbanks. “It would be inappropriate for members of the Board to speak to the specifics of any particular person’s reasons for leaving the employment of the City. However, the Board has been looking into the reasons the City has had a hard time keeping our department heads and is attempting to address those issues.”

Wilbanks said every time Clinton loses a department head, “it causes a disruption in our City.”

The mayor said he’s “pretty much up to speed” on pending economic development projects. “[Lang] will leave me a list of things, and we’ll start making those touches and then going through the process to find a replacement and keep moving from there,” Fisher said.

While there has been some turnover lately, several other department heads in Clinton have had lengthy stints in their jobs. Russell Wall has been City Clerk since October of 2005.

Community Development Director Roy Edwards was hired in February of 2013. Ford Hayman was named Police Chief in April of 2016, and Fire Chief Jeff Blackledge was promoted to his position in August of 2016. City Attorney Will Purdie was hired in October of 2019, and Phillip Lilley has been Public Works Director since November of 2020.