Jones pledges to fix job-posting 'ambiguity'

Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones says county government is changing its job-posting policy. This is response to revelations that the wife of Charlotte city councilman Anthony Foxx landed a $100,000 job after it was posted for only one day. Jones says he gave Social Services Director Mary Wilson permission to post the job during a hiring freeze, but was surprised to learn how she went about filling the position. Jones spoke this morning on WFAE's Charlotte Talks program. "I can't justify the one day. I have to say that Mary did use an ambiguity in the policy. She got the blessings of the county manager to accelerate the hiring process. Had I know it was only going to be for a day, I would not have approved it being posted for only a day," Jones said, adding, "We'll fix that today." Jones says he'll recommend to commissioners a policy that makes clear how long a job should be posted. He expects the Commission to approve the change this (Wednesday) afternoon. The city of Charlotte's policy says all jobs should be posted at least one week. Wake County has a similar policy. Wilson hired Samara Fox last July shortly after being named director of DSS. Wilson was her supervisor at a previous job.