c110705IIClosed Session II — November 7, 2005
At 5:55 p.m. the Board adjourned to closed session to consider the qualifications, competence,
performance, condition of appointment of a public officer or employee or prospective public officer or
employee, pursuant to NCGS 143-318.11(a)(6). Commissioners Holmes, Kemp, Frye, Lanier, and
Davis were present, as well as County Manager Frank Willis; Alice Dawson, Clerk to the Board;
Cheryl Ivey, Deputy Clerk; Alan Pugh, County Attorney; and Aimee Scotton, Associate County
Attorney.
County Manager Frank Willis announced that he would like to retire effective March 1, 2006.
However, he told the Board that he would be willing to delay his retirement for 1 month or come back
on a consultant basis if the Board so desired in order to guide a new manager through the budget
process. Mr. Willis said that the only person that had expressed an interest (to him) in the County
Manager's job was Richard Wells, Randolph County Library Director. Mr. Willis told the Board that
he felt that Mr. Wells would be agreeable to an interim appointment of perhaps a year without hiring a
new library director. Mr. Willis pointed out that Ross Holt, Assistant Public Library Director, and
newly hired George Taylor, Archdale Library Branch Manager, could aptly fill in during this interim
period. After a year's time, if the Board was not satisfied with Mr. Wells' performance as Interim
County Manager, or if Mr. Wells no longer desired to be County Manager, Mr. Wells could resume his
position as Library Director.
Mr. Willis also suggested separating his dual role as County Manager/Finance Officer and
appointing Will Massie, Deputy Finance Officer, as County Finance Officer. He said that Mr. Massie,
over the last several years, has assumed all the duties of the Finance Officer (including investments
and all the day-to-day business of the finance office) with the exception of the budget process.
The Board decided to wait until their December meeting to announce Mr. Willis' retirement
and the possible appointment of a new County Manager.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Lanier, the Board voted unanimously at 6:30 p.m. to adjourn
from closed session and resume regular session.
J. Harold Holmes, Chairman Darrell L. Frye
Phil Kemp
Arnold Lanier
Approved: December 5, 2005
Unsealed: January 9, 2006
Robert B. Davis
Cheryl A. Ivey, Deputy Clerk