The Bainbridge-Decatur County Recreation Authority named its director at a special called meeting Tuesday with a 4-1 vote.

Al Kelley, who has been working with the City of Bainbridge Leisure Services for more than 30 years, will transition to executive director of the Recreation Authority in July. His starting salary will be $82,000.

“I appreciate the confidence the board has in me,” Kelley said. “I’m ready to move the Recreation Authority to the next level.”

Board member Tynese Jones was the dissenting vote.

“I was in agreement for (Kelley) being chosen for the position, but I did not agree with the $10,000 pay increase,” Jones said.

Kelley’s current salary with the City of Bainbridge is $72,051.

Jones said City Manager Chris Hobby indicated he would be helping Kelley with certain aspects of the new position, and that did not warrant the pay increase.

“Because of that, I didn’t think that a $10,000 jump was right,” Jones said. “A compromise in there I would have supported, because I agree going from what he is doing now to that position merits an increase, but not a $10,000 increase and you need assistance.”

Hobby said he did not mean to imply Kelley had any deficiencies or weaknesses in certain areas, but that he was offering to assist with any technical questions Kelley may have with the new position. Hobby said the relationship with the City of Bainbridge and the Recreation Authority should be a partnership.

“If the authority needs our help, we are here in whatever way is needed,” Hobby said. “It wouldn’t matter if they hired someone from outside, we would have offered the exact same thing.”

The motion to make Kelley exectuive director carried a stipulation that his salary not be revisited until July 2017.