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Weddington Council directs staff to contract interim planning services; Central selected
Summary
The council authorized staff to negotiate and enter a contract with Central for interim town-planning services while the town advertises for a permanent planner; council members noted InFocus had proposed roughly $6,000 per month but emphasized they would verify final contract terms before signing.
Weddington Town Council voted May 19 to direct staff to negotiate and enter into a contract with Central for interim planning services while the town recruits a permanent planner.
Council members compared two part-time proposal models from InFocus and Central, weighing familiarity and candidate continuity against cost predictability. One council member noted InFocus’s proposal included a monthly fee of about $6,000 (noted in discussion as roughly $36,000 over six months), while Central’s materials were described as offering a fixed-fee structure that some members found more predictable.
Members discussed practical limits on contractor on-site hours, proposing office hours or an appointment system so limited contractor time focuses on pipeline projects and application reviews. The permit technician (Jasmine) was identified as a gatekeeper to triage walk-ins and preserve contractor review time.
A motion directing staff to enter into a contract with Central carried unanimously; council members said staff will verify final terms — including any not-to-exceed amount — before signing. The council also directed staff to advertise the permanent town planner position using professional channels (league listings, university alumni networks, LinkedIn) and to benchmark salary ranges against recent hires.
The interim contract was described as a stopgap expected to last as little as 30 days if a candidate is found sooner, with discussion noting 90–120 days as typical and up to six months if necessary. Council members characterized the interim service as necessary to keep reviews and permitting moving while recruitment proceeds.
