Aldermen move up Molder

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen tapped a longtime employee to fill the vacant position of city superintendent during a called meeting last Monday.
John Molder brings 18 years of experience with the city to the job.
City Administrator John Webb said he thinks Molder will do the job well.
“John’s going to do an excellent job,” Webb said. “He’s honest and a very hard worker.”
The position also has a new title with officials opting to use the more modern Director of Public Works.

“City superintendent is a term that is outdated,” Webb said. “It really went out in the 1970s.”
Molder has already been exercising most of the duties of his new position since former city superintendent Jim Roberts went on medical leave for cancer and since Roberts passed away in April.

“I had been filling in for Jim when he was away for several years, and I can’t replace him,” Molder said. “I’m just going to do the best job I can.”

Webb said Roberts’ death has left a big gap in knowledge that the city is working to fill.
“Jim had 27 years with the city and knew where things (water lines, sewer lines, etc.) were,” Webb said. “He shared a lot of that with John, and we’re having to learn some of that.”

Webb said Roberts held the water system and waste water treatment licenses that the city worked under and said Molder also holds those licenses. Webb is also working to get licensed and will encourage other city workers to obtain licenses so that the city has more than one person on staff with that training.

As director of public works, Molder will be the city’s head man out in the field and will share duties to make state and federal reports with the city administrator.
“We’re both working to learn the state and federal rules that Jim knew so well,” Webb said.
City aldermen met in closed session for about 25 minutes before voting unanimously to promote Molder. All aldermen were present for the meeting except Alderman Tommy Hill.