Cramerton board hires Zach Ollis as town manager; appoints Josh Watkins assistant town manager over one dissent

The Town of Cramerton Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 8 to hire Zach Ollis as town manager, with Ollis set to begin work Jan. 3, 2023.

The board also approved job descriptions and a pay range for a combined Planning Director/Assistant Town Manager position and appointed Josh Watkins to that role. The appointment passed 4–1; Commissioner Atkinson cast the lone vote against the appointment.

Commissioner Atkinson questioned the timing of the assistant manager hire, asking, "would he not be responsible for hiring staff?" Interim Town Manager Leamon Brice responded that the board's role is to create the position and noted that "Mr. Ollis has been contacted and he is comfortable with the appointment of Josh Watkins." Commissioner Helms made the motion to approve the job descriptions and appointment; Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley seconded the motion.

The board unanimously approved the employment contract for Ollis at the meeting. Commissioner Atkinson had earlier moved to hire Ollis; Commissioner Kincaid seconded that motion. The minutes record the effective start date for Ollis as January 3, 2023.

The votes recorded in the meeting minutes for the staffing items were: approval of the Planning Director/Assistant Town Manager appointment, 4–1 (Atkinson nay); hire of Zach Ollis as town manager, 5–0; and approval of Ollis's contract, 5–0.

The board's action follows an interim period in which Leamon Brice served as interim town manager. The minutes note that Brice will be available to assist the new town manager if needed and that department heads will participate in upcoming goals-and-objectives meetings scheduled for Dec. 14.

Next steps documented in the minutes: Ollis will begin Jan. 3, 2023; the board will proceed with transition planning and staff assignments as the new manager assumes duties.