c120505Closed Session — December 5, 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.
The Board discussed the upcoming retirements of County Manager Frank Willis (4/l/06) and
Clerk to the Board Alice Dawson (5/l/06) and agreed to the following plan:
• Beginning 1/l/06, Deputy Finance Officer Will Massie will become Assistant County
Manager/Finance Officer at a salary of $81,900.
• Beginning January 1, 2006, Richard Wells, Library Director, will become County Manager in
Transition at a salary of $90,000.
• Beginning January 1, 2006, Assistant Library Director Suzanne Tate, will become the Library
Director at a salary of $61,116, and Ross Holt, Head of Reference and Systems Administrator,
will become Assistant Library Director at a salary of $50,364.
• Beginning January 1, 2006, a part-time hourly Library Assistant II will be hired as a courier for
services to branch libraries.
• Beginning April 1, 2006, Richard Wells will become Interim County Manager.
• Beginning April 1, 2006, Frank Willis will be available as a consultant to the County for a
period of one year. Instead of paying him a consulting fee, the County will pay 100% of his
health insurance premium, rather than the 75% he is already entitled to, until he reaches age 65.
• At the April 3, 2006 County Commissioners meeting, the Board will appoint Cheryl Ivey
(currently serving as Administrative Assistant and Deputy Clerk to the Board) as Assistant to
the County Manager and Clerk to the Board at a salary of $43,596.
• During December and January the County will advertise and recruit for the position of
Administrative Assistant, to be hired as soon as possible, at a salary of at least $27,876 and at
most $30,564. At the April 3, 2006 County Commissioners meeting, the Board will appoint the
new employee as Deputy Clerk to the Board.
• Between January 1 and April 30, 2006, Ms. Dawson will provide training to the new employee
and to the Manager in Transition.
• April 1, 2007, the interim period ends and Mr. Wells will be appointed County Manager if the
Board so approves.
On motion of Frye, seconded by Lanier, the Board voted unanimously at 6:25 p.m. to adjourn
from closed session and resume regular session.
J. Harold Holmes, Chairman Darrell L. Frye
Phil Kemp
Arnold Lanier
Robert B. Davis
Cheryl A. Ivey, Deputy Clerk
Approved: January 9, 2006 Unsealed: January 9, 2006