Royston Officially Hires Andrews as City Manager

Royston’s City Council officially hires their new city manager.

The city council voted to hire Martin resident Edward Andrews for the job in  called meeting Tuesday evening.

In late July, Andrews was announced as the sole finalist for the job out of a pool of some 19 candidates.   After the vote Tuesday, Andrews said he was happy and looking forward to his new role.

Andrews retired last year after a long career in the military, first working the Georgia Army National Guard and then for the Georgia Department of Defense where he worked as a mechanical maintenance supervisor.

After retirement,  Andrews opened Sargeant Majors’ Sandwich shop on Jones St. in Lavonia, which is run by his daughter.  But he said he soon realized he needed more to do.

“I retired after 33 years in October of last year,” he said. “I stuck around the house for a little bit, and I had planned to pursue something like this. I enjoy a challenge; love a challenge.”

Andrews said he believes he can bring some good experience and strong skills to the job of city manager.

“My leadership abilities and my abilities to work with others. I have a strong personal approach to everything. So, I think that’s going to be a positive and a plus in this job,” he said Tuesday.

But Andrew’s hiring was not unanimous.  Two city councilman, Keith Turman and Lee Strickland voted against hiring Andrews.  

“I think Mr. Andrews is probably capable of doing the job, but I was looking for someone with more city government and city management experience,” Turman said. “I think there were other candidates we could have looked at.”

Strickland said the council interviewed four finalists before naming Andrews as the sole finalist. 

“I just felt like we should have taken longer,” Strickland said. “We weren’t in a hurry and suddenly we were in a hurry. I felt like we should have reviewed more of the applicants and had a second interview with some of the candidates we looked at in the beginning. I felt like the candidates needed a second interview, all of them, to where we could learn more about them.”

Still, both Turman and Strickland say they will support Andrews.  Andrews was hired at a salary of just over $42,000 a year with full benefits.  He starts his new job as city manager on September 2nd.