Mount Olive town commissioners met in closed session for about an hour on Friday, April 4, to discuss the search for a new town manager. Mayor Pro-tem Barbara Kornegay, who presided over the session, called it a productive session, but could not comment since it involved personnel. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The Mount Olive Town Board met behind closed doors for about an hour on Friday, April 4, to begin its discussions about the search for a new town manager.
Mayor Pro-tem Barbara Kornegay, who presided over the session in the absence of Mayor Jerome Newton, said she could only speak in generalities about the session since it involved personnel.
Kornegay said she could not speak to the number of applicants nor as to when the board possibly could make a decision to fill the office.
“It was a closed session therefore we are not able to talk about these confidential matters,” she said. “It was a productive session, and we have some possible candidates for interview.
“I am glad we decided to use a search firm. They have brought us a number of qualified candidates.”
David Bone, executive director of the Eastern Carolina Council, joined the meeting by Zoom.
The town has been without a full-time town manager since Jan. 13 when the board voted 3-2 to fire then-Manager Jammie Royall, who had served in that role since 2020.
Kornegay and Commissioners Tommy Brown and Danny Keel voted to fire Royall. Commissioners Vicky Darden and Delreese Simmons voted against the firing that followed a closed session to discuss the competence, performance and/or fitness of an employee.
Following that action the board named Glenn Holland, veteran town employee and superintendent of utilities, as interim manager.
Bone attended the board’s Feb. 3 session at the behest of Keel.
During that meeting, Keel, who represents the town on the Eastern Carolina Council, said he had asked Bone to make a proposal to help in the search.
Keel told the board that Bone is well experienced and schooled in helping finding town managers and that the Council has been successful in helping several eastern North Carolina towns find qualified and experienced town managers.
That assistance is expected to cost the town up to $5,000 and up to $1,000 for regional travel and reimbursements.
However, anything additional would be pre-approved with the town, Bone said at the Feb. 3 meeting.
During that session Kornegay asked if there was any place where the public could be involved.
“We can design whatever process you want,” Bone said. “What I have given you is based on a more streamlined approach. So, if the town board wants to involve the public on the front end, I would need to change the schedule and give you a different proposal.”
Typically, the public is not involved in the review of applications, at least in North Carolina, and any public input, if desired, is normally on the front end about desired traits and criteria, he said.
Bone said his work would include handling development of a timeline, helping with the applications, helping review the applications, development of suitable questions, advertising in different areas including in state and out of state.
He added that he would be here to help guide and be a resource during the interviews.
The final decision would be made by the town board.
The decision to accept the proposal was not without controversy.
Following the Feb. 3 presentation, Newton pushed to table the vote on the manager search proposal. The board agreed, and the meeting was recessed until Thursday, Feb. 6.
When the meeting reconvened on Feb. 6, Brown made a motion to approve the manager search contract. It was seconded by Keel.
However, prior to the vote, Simmons, who agreed the town needs a manager, challenged Keel’s eligibility to vote since he serves on the Eastern Carolina Council board.
Newton asked Town Attorney Carroll Turner for an opinion on Simmons’ challenge.
“Mr. Mayor is not a close call,” Turner said. “It has got to be a direct financial interest. Reading from NCGS 138A-36, ‘it must be a reasonably foreseeable financial benefit for the board member not to able to participate.’ There is no conflict of interest.
“Commissioner Keel will not receive any compensation or benefit as the result of voting for the contract to seek a manager. Just because somebody thinks there is a conflict does not mean there is one.”
Kornegay called for the question to end the discussion and the motion was approved 4-1 with Simmons voting no.
