Methods for choosing the Fayette County Commission chairman will be the first issue the county's governing body faces when it convenes for the first time in 1999 today.

Commissioners will gather at 3:30 p.m. today for their monthly work session and, with two new members in place, will continue a discussion that started during last year's annual retreat, early in 1998.

Last year, the group decided to stay with the current method, in which the commission members choose a chairman and vice chairman from among themselves each January. Commissioner Herb Frady pushed for a change to either a chairmanship that automatically rotates each year or an elected chairman.

Frady and Commissioner Harold Bost argued that the current method encourages formation of coalitions and foments discord, referring to numerous conflicts and personality clashes on the board that have occurred during the last two years. They failed to persuade fellow commissioners to change the system, but Frady brought the matter up again in December.

"The system we have today is the worst possible method," Frady said.

Last year's chairman, Robert Sprayberry, voted to keep the current system in February, but last month urged future commissioners to put thematter on a ballot and let voters decide how to choose the chairman.

"I strongly encourage the next board to put it on an election ballot," said Sprayberry, but added he is concerned that continuity could be lost if the chairmanship is passed to a new person each year. "The continuity of leadership is crucial," he said.

During the Dec. 10 meeting, commissioners voted to table the matter and leave it up to the new board.

The first item of business today is swearing in ceremonies for new commissioners Linda Wells and Greg Dunn. Then, after discussing the method, commissioners are expected to choose a chairman and vice chairman for 1999.