Beaufort may waive residency requirement for city manager, who lives on Cat Island
The city of Beaufort is in the process of amending a requirement that its city manager lives within the boundaries of the city he oversees.
The move was spurred by the hiring of Scott Marshall as city manager in December. At the time he was hired, Marshall, Beaufort County’s human resources director, lived at Governors Trace on Cat Island.
His home has a Beaufort mailing address but technically falls outside of the city limits. Existing city code requires city managers to move to the city within six months of their hiring.
City Council members knew where Marshall lived when they hired him and addressed the living situation in his employment contract. The contract says Marshall can continue to live at his current address. And if he ever moves, Marshall agreed any new residence would be within the city limits.
The contract requires the amendment to the city’s code because city ordinance requires city managers to move into the city limits within six months of hiring.
State law permits municipalities to waive the residency requirement.
Under the proposed change to the ordinance, city managers would still need to move to the city within six months but a caveat is added: “unless otherwise specified in the terms of the employment contract.”
Graham Trask, a real estate owner and developer, criticized the change, telling City Council members recently “you are going to give him a pass,” which he described as “puzzling” considering the residency requirement.
Marshall said his house is so close to Beaufort, “I could throw a rock and hit the city limits.” His residence, Marshall added, is closer to Beaufort City Hall than many locations within the city.
Governors Trace is about 7 miles from City Hall, which is at 1911 Boundary Street.
In December, Council members voted 5-0 to hire Marshall. The proposed change in the residency requirement was passed 5-0 on a first reading Tuesday. The proposal requires a second reading before it’s final.
