Search for new deputy purchasing agent underway
Following the sudden resignation last month of former Anderson County purchasing agent Tony Foreman, the county is now in the process of finding someone to fill that position.
Foreman’s resignation occurred during the purchasing department’s busiest time of year, officials said, and at a time when the department is experiencing a state of flux with the county’s transition last year to the financial management system of 1981 and the finance committee’s recent decision to place the purchasing department under the oversight of the county finance department.
With the restructuring of the purchasing department Foreman would have had to report to county finance director Natalie Erb instead of the finance committee.
Although the vacant position has yet to be filled, Erb reported to the finance committee during the monthly meeting on Monday that she has hired Katherine Ajmeri as a purchasing specialist in the currently understaffed purchasing department.
Ajmeri has an extensive background in procurement, and “a wealth of experience” in state and federal contracts, which is what the department needs, Erb said.
Erb apprised the finance committee that Ajmeri is also a potential candidate for the purchasing agent position.
“She meets the qualifications for that position. I would be shocked if someone more qualified than her comes forward and applies for that position. In all likelihood, as we go through the process, I’m hoping that she will be the purchasing agent,” continued Erb.
For now, though, the position will remain vacant as the county looks at all the potential candidates that have applied, she said.
Erb also proposed to the finance committee that the committee motion to approve her request to change the title of the purchasing agent job but keep the job description the same with minor changes.
In correspondence with the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS), Erb was advised that the purchasing agent position Foreman carried out is considered by CTAS to be a “deputy purchasing agent” role.
A deputy purchasing agent’s responsibilities are similar to a purchasing agent’s, she said, with the only difference being minor changes, and most counties under the 1981 law have a similar structure for their purchasing and finance departments.
The change in the job title would be in accordance with the 1981 law, she said.
Erb told the finance committee she is looking at this vacancy in the purchasing department as an opportunity to cross train critical functions in county finance.
“It’s a huge opportunity and now that the two departments are one there’s an opportunity to blend those functions and really have some strong back up when we need it,” said Erb.
The finance committee voted unanimously to approve Erb’s request to change the job title of purchasing agent to deputy purchasing agent. County commissioners will vote whether to approve the request at their commission meeting next Monday.
