By JIM FAILE

Hartsville City Council voted unanimously Monday to offer the position of city manager to Springdale, S.C., Town Administrator Natalie Zeigler.

Council spent more than three and a quarter hours in a closed executive session during a special called meeting discussing the selection of a new manager before the vote.

Members will meet again on Thursday at 5 p.m. to begin drawing up an employment contract with Zeigler, Mayor Mel Pennington said.

Zeigler, who said she plans to accept the position once the contract details are worked out, will become Hartsville’s first permanent female city manager. Sherron Skipper, director of administrative services for the city, served as acting city manager for a short time after former City Manager Bill Bruton left the post.

Mayor Pennington said he was pleased with council’s decision and with its unanimous vote. “Number one, we are very excited to have such a dynamic person coming into our community with her experience and her insights,” the mayor said.

“Tonight, council spoke unanimously, with one voice, and I think that’s very important for people to know that. We feel that with this selection, she will be a part of Hartsville’s movement forward for a substantial time to come. We’re getting a person who sees the great potential of this city and who is willing to make a commitment and a significant investment in our community to help it realize that potential.”

Pennington said he believes Zeigler will bring a vision, passion and commitment to the position that will help move the city forward. “She has great credentials, and her experience with the Municipal Association has allowed her to learn and network and given her opportunities to get to know many people all around the state,” he said. “In her current job, she’s had the opportunity to run almost every department single handedly.”

“I’m excited to have been offered the job,” Zeigler said Monday night. “I’ve enjoyed exploring Hartsville over the past week. My husband and I believe it will be a great town to raise our two little girls. We’re excited about the move. It’s definitely the place I want to be.”

A native of Texas, Zeigler said she grew up in a small town similar to Hartsville. She said during her time in South Carolina she has developed friendships with a number of people from Hartsville. “They’ve always told me what a great place Hartsville is,” she said. “We think it will be a great place for our daughters to grow up.”

Zeigler was one of three finalists council considered for the position out of a field of 83 applicants. She interviewed with council on Thursday and toured the city on Thursday and Friday.

The two other finalists were Scotty Davis, director of community services for the City of Florence, and Jeffrey H. Batton, assistant manager of operations for the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. All three were notified of council’s decision immediately after Monday’s meeting, Pennington said.

Pennington said Zeigler will likely work out a four- to six-week notice with her current employers. He said he hopes to have the contract signed by Nov. 1 and that he hopes she will be able to start in December.

Council members are reviewing several other employment contracts from around the state in preparation for Thursday’s meeting, which will include the city attorney, who will also review the contract, he said.

The mayor said Interim City Manager Vern Myers will work with Zeigler through a transition period.

Zeigler has served as the town administrator in Springdale, a town of about 3,000 near Columbia, since October 2007. Her duties include carrying out the directives of the Town Council, preparing and implementing an annual budget, administering personnel and supervising operations of town governmental departments, including a staff of two department heads and 15 staff.

In her role as administrator, she also serves as the town’s planning director, zoning administrator, town clerk and human resources director and provides staff support to the town’s Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Design Review Board and Accommodations Tax Committee.

From November of 2006 to April of 2007, Zeigler served as assistant to the city manager in Cedar Park, Texas. She served as staff associate for affiliate services for the Municipal Association of South Carolina from November 2004 to September of 2006, where, among other things, she produced training videos for planning commissions, zoning boards and architectural review boards of municipal governments in South Carolina.

She served internships with the University of South Carolina while in graduate school and with the City of Conway as an administration intern.

She is active in several professional and community organizations.

Zeigler received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in history from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, in May of 2002. She received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of South Carolina where she was a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society.

Former City Manager Jim Pennington resigned in January. Former Planning Commission Chairman Vern Myers has been serving as interim city manager since then.