Board of Commissioners

TOWN OF BURGAW BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING DATE: March 11, 2016 TIME: 5:30 PM PLACE: Burgaw Municipal Building BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Eugene Mulligan Commissioners Jan Dawson, Bill George, Vernon Harrell and Wilfred Robbins STAFF PRESENT: Chad McEwen, Town Manager Sylvia W. Raynor, Town Clerk Robert Kenan, Town Attorney Kristin Wells, Deputy Clerk MEDIA PRESENT: WECT News OTHERS PRESENT: Many The meeting was called to order by Mayor Eugene Mulligan at 5:30PM. Commissioner Robbins delivered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all. Mayor Mulligan said Item #4 is a discussion item regarding the vacancy on the Board of Commissioners due to the resignation of Commissioner Howard Walker. Commissioner Harrell said he would like to nominate Jim Fouche for this position. He advised having served as chair of the Promotions/Special Events Committee, he feels Mr. Fouche has been sufficiently vetted and is prepared to take over this seat on the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Harrell advised Mr. Fouche has imminent qualifications including having graduated from West Point with a BS in Engineering, received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Missouri, received a Master’s in Business Administration from Golden State University, retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, served as finance officer for the military academy and worked for Cape Fear Farm Credit and retired from there after seventeen years. Commissioner Harrell said he is placing Mr. Fouche’s name in the nomination field. Mayor Mulligan asked the Board if there was any discussion or any further nominations. Commissioner Dawson said she thinks that the Board probably needs some more time. She advised she has not adequately been able to discuss among the other commissioners as to who we might . . . it’s a very important position and I don’t want us to rush into . . . it’s only been three days since Mr. Walker turned in his resignation and I really wish that we would give ourselves just a little more time because it is such an important position. She said there is nothing against Mr. Fouche, he has wonderful qualifications. She just thinks we need to have a little more time to discuss what other possible candidates there might be. Commissioner Robbins asked Commissioner Dawson if that was a motion. Commissioner Dawson said she would rather table the decision and give us a little more time. She advised whenever she was appointed she received phone calls from every commissioner. She said they wanted to talk to her, discuss what her thoughts were, and what her qualifications were. She said she would like that opportunity as well. She said she is interested in other names out there that might be interested in the position and she thinks the board needs to be able to discuss this and see who would be the best for the job. Commissioner Dawson made a motion to table the discussion. The motion was seconded by Commissioner George. The motion was carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Mulligan said since this is the sole item on the agenda and the only item that can be discussed, he asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Robbins said he would like to say something. He advised this meeting was done hurriedly and he would encourage anybody out there to please contact the board members if they have any interest or if they know of anybody that may have any interest in serving. He also said in the meantime we need to be thinking about a way we can honor Mr. Walker and his service to the Town as well as the agricultural community, the education of children in Pender County, service in his church and the many things that he has done; he has been a remarkable asset to the people of this town. He asked for everyone to keep Mr. Walker in mind. BOC MIN SP MTG 031116 – 040516 1 After discussion, Commissioner Robbins made a motion to reconvene this meeting on April 5, 2016 at 6:00PM. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Harrell and carried by unanimous vote. Commissioner Harrell made a motion to recess until April 5 at 6:00PM. The motion was seconded by Commissioner George and carried by unanimous vote. The meeting recessed at 5:38 PM. MEETING RECONVENES The meeting reconvened at 6:00PM on April 5, 2016. All parties listed above were present with the exception of the media (there was no media present). There was also a large group of attendees from the community. Mayor Mulligan called the meeting to order. The invocation was delivered by Commissioner Robbins. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all. Mayor Mulligan advised this is a continuation of the March 11 th meeting. He advised at that time there was a nomination on the floor for Jim Fouche and we delayed this meeting to have further consideration. Commissioner Harrell asked to read a letter from Mr. Fouche to the Board of Commissioners that read as follows: “Three weeks ago Commissioners George, Dawson and Robbins voted to delay the selection a Commissioner to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Walker. The reason given was to allow more time to question me as a nominee and any other nominee that may be brought forward. Since none of those Commissioners have contacted me in the past three weeks, I conclude that I am not under consideration for the position. Further, I have been informed that Commissioners George, Dawson and Robbins intend to nominate, second and vote in the affirmative for Mr. Murphy at the April 5 th meeting. Based on the above, I withdraw my nomination. I appreciate Commissioner Harrell for nominating me for the vacancy and wish Mr. Murphy all the best in service to all the citizens of Burgaw.” James Fouche Commissioner Harrell said having read that he hereby withdraws Mr. Fouche’s nomination from the table. Commissioner George said he would like to place in nomination the name of James L. Murphy, Sr. Commissioner George advised Mr. Murphy lives at 401 N. McNeil Street in Burgaw. Commissioner George advised Mr. Murphy’s resume is very impressive and is available to anyone who would like to read it. Commissioner George made a motion to place Mr. Murphy’s name in nomination for the vacancy. Commissioner Dawson seconded the motion. Commissioner Harrell asked for discussion. He advised he has known Mr. Murphy since high school; they both graduated from Burgaw High School and he has known him since then through doing work for him. He said he encouraged Mr. Murphy at that time to go into service to the community. He said he feels he is very qualified and that he is very happy to see his name placed in nomination and would be very happy to vote for him. Commissioner Dawson said she looks forward to working with Mr. Murphy and thinks that he will do a fine job for us in representing the community and that Mr. Walker always stressed that we need more diversity in our town. Commissioner Robbins said he is excited about working with Mr. Murphy. The motion was carried by unanimous vote. At that time the oath of office was administered to James L. Murphy, Sr. by the town clerk. Upon being seated, Commissioner Murphy was asked by Mayor Mulligan to make a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Murphy made a motion to adjourn. The motion was carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:10PM. ____________________________ Eugene Mulligan, Mayor Attest: _________________________ Sylvia W. Raynor, Town Clerk BOC MIN SP MTG 031116 – 040516 2