Sunset Beach council retains outside counsel, ends town administrator’s employment and names interim administrator

After a closed session on Dec. 10, the Town of Sunset Beach council announced three immediate personnel decisions: it retained outside legal counsel, terminated the town administrator’s employment effective immediately and appointed Ken Claymer to continue as police chief and to serve as interim town administrator.

The council moved into closed session citing N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(a)(6), which authorizes closed deliberations on personnel matters. On returning to public session, a council member moved to retain the legal services of Shipman Wright Moore pursuant to a retainer agreement; the motion was seconded and approved with spoken "Aye" responses (the transcript records vocal assent but does not include a roll-call vote or named tallies).

A separate motion to terminate the town administrator’s employment was made, seconded and approved; during the public reconvening a council member moved that the termination be effective immediately and asked for the council’s pleasure — the motion passed on recorded "Aye" responses and no opposed votes were recorded in the transcript.

The council then moved to appoint Ken Claymer to continue as police chief and to serve immediately as interim town administrator; that motion likewise was seconded and approved with spoken "Aye" responses. The transcript records the motions, seconds and vocal 'Aye' approvals but does not provide a roll-call or named vote record in the public minutes produced here.

The council did not provide extended public explanation in the session following the votes. The retainer for Shipman Wright Moore was approved; the town administrator’s termination was ordered effective immediately; and Ken Claymer was appointed to serve as interim town administrator while continuing as police chief. The council adjourned after the appointments.