Pender County commissioners approve new county manager despite one commissioner’s objections
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Summary
Pender County commissioners voted to approve a county manager contract on Nov. 25 after closed-session negotiations. Commissioner Dr. Tate opposed the hire, citing lack of large-jurisdiction experience; the board welcomed “Mister Sawyer” and asked staff to notify employees internally.
PENDER COUNTY, N.C. — The Pender County Commission voted on Nov. 25 to approve a contract for a new county manager after discussion in closed session, though Commissioner Dr. Tate said he could not support the hire.
The motion to approve the county manager contract was made by a commissioner and carried by the majority after discussion about the candidate’s experience and the contract’s terms. Dr. Tate said the candidate lacked relevant county-management experience, large-budget oversight and infrastructure experience and declared, “I cannot vote for this contract.”
The vote followed a review of language — described by the county attorney in open session — that makes the manager subject to the county personnel policy except where the contract explicitly controls. The chair summarized the months-long national search handled by a professional firm and said department heads will work to support the new manager’s success.
Dr. Tate detailed several concerns about the candidate’s background, saying the candidate was coming from a much smaller jurisdiction and lacked experience supervising large staffs and managing complex capital projects. He also questioned the compensation and contract length, warning the county could face substantial severance costs if the hire failed.
In defense of the hire, a commissioner said the process produced a limited applicant pool and said the board had adjusted earlier salary recommendations to arrive at the current offer. “We have to start from the top, and we have to provide some type of stability,” the commissioner said, arguing the contract is intended to reduce turnover and provide continuity.
After the vote, the chair welcomed “Mister Sawyer” to Pender County and said the county will support his transition. Commissioners asked that county staff be notified internally; the chair asked Miss Cobb to send an internal welcome email. The county attorney confirmed to the board that no manager had been hired prior to the meeting.
The board adjourned following the vote.
What’s next: The manager’s contract terms, including any severance or specific personnel-policy exceptions referenced during closed session, will govern how the county and the new manager resolve conflicts between county policy and contract language.