Underhanded ActionBy Robbins Board
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Over the past 10 years, the brave and resourceful town of Robbins in northern Moore County has served as a beacon of progressive self-government.
Under the leadership of three mayors - Mickey Brown, Laura Ann Brady and Theron Bell - the town has struggled to keep its head above a flood tide of blows to its economy and carve out a new role for itself.
But the town's Board of Commissioners forfeited some of that positive image last week when its members, while meeting behind closed doors in the best smoke-filled-room fashion, secretly agreed to have Mayor Lonnie English go to Town Manager George Hayfield and quietly deliver a withering message: Resign or be fired.
It may not have legally qualified as a "vote," but the action clearly flew in the face of the spirit of the Open Meetings Law, which forbids official bodies to make decisions in private. They can discuss certain issues in executive sessions, but they have to come out into the open to take a vote, where anyone who wishes to observe can do so.
People Kept in Dark
That was certainly not what happened last week. The people of Robbins, who elect commissioners and have every right to know what decisions they make, were kept totally in the dark about this big one.
The were clueless about any ultimatum until Hayfield happened to go public with it. They still don't know which members initiated or acquiesced in this sorry scheme, and the members themselves have made themselves scarce when asked to be interviewed about the matter.
Maybe an argument can be made that Hayfield deserved firing. We don't know, but we have our doubts. It seems more like a case of newly elected members acting underhandedly, spitefully and in imprudent haste. We do know, judging from what English has said, that board members chose this back-door method out of supposed concern for the manager's feelings, making it look as if he had quit voluntarily. How noble of them.
Out of the Blue
The board said Tuesday that it will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Friday "to consider the town manager position." But it is clear that any "consideration," as such, has already taken place in private and that the outcome is a done deal. The agenda, unlike those for regular board meetings, includes no provision for the public to speak its mind.
Ironically, most members recently expressed disdain at the idea that some of them might meet privately with county commissioners to negotiate a possible water deal. The board won praise for sticking to the principle that the public's business ought to be done in public. So much for that.
Hayfield appears to have been blindsided. To our knowledge, no board members - especially not the two new ones, Mayor English and Commissioner Kevin Stewart, have ever sat in on any session with the manager to discuss concerns about his performance. Neither has raised any public complaint against his work. Nobody in the last town election campaigned on a fire-the-manager platform.
What the board ought to do at Friday's meeting is to apologize and offer Hayfield his old job back, but good luck on that one. Good luck, too, on finding any qualified applicant willing to work for a town that treated its last one so shamefully.
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Comments
pgericson 1 year, 4 months ago
A reading of the public meetings law would seem to permit the very action taken by the Robbin's board of commissioners. Specifically, closed meetings are permitted "To consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee; or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge, or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee." Unless I miss my guess the town manager is employed by the Board. The spirit of the public meetings law is to encourage open government while recognizing -for very good reasons - the appropriateness of private discussions in a few select cases. The editors judgment of the Board is too harsh: they were following state policies.
difflook 1 year, 4 months ago
Evidently the writer of this does not and has not talked to the citizens of Robbins! If they are So in tune where where they when they when the terminated, legally I might add, as the manager Works at the pleasure of the board, manager pushed through quickly and without any inspections The old theatre building?? And because the finance officer corrected a LIE that the gentleman Reported to the board, she was fired! Where was the Stern editorial then? Just because she ca Cautioned the town to have the ove 50 year old building inspected!and guess what oh housed up Was it when the place was found to have serious structural problems? Hmm where where they Then? In a smoke filled room? Never thought the people in charge at the Pilot would allow such Untrue state,ends be their position! It's evident the side the paper is on, but the good people Of Robbins elected the people on their board, not the paper so that's their call!
kst101 1 year, 4 months ago
@pgericson- You hit the nail on the head. Closed sessions are used to protect personal information of an employee.
bubbasmith 1 year, 4 months ago
Pilot, this is the most one sided and misleading editorial ever. Robbins is headed in the right direction. Maybe the Robbins commissioners will get a new newspaper to come into town.
bubbasmith 1 year, 4 months ago
@wdd101st- Yes, the Robbins Record was awesome, they reported the news instead of stiring it up and manufacturing it.
Satch2929 1 year, 4 months ago
The Pilot staff should have included all of George's accomplishments during his tenure. It would added a little clout to the article. But hence, empty. Maybe they can hire him.
JohnChappell 1 year, 4 months ago
Some facts about the theater:
difflook 1 year, 4 months ago
no serious? So with a purchase of a building over 50 years old, would it have been prudent to take the former finance officers suggestion to have it inspected? her sugestion cost her the job, was or was not portions of the building "corded" off after the purchase due to concerns of the structure? its a great thing for Robbins im sure, just saying with over $80,000.00 being spent of someone's tax money shouldnt the person in charge? the Manager>? required an inspection prior to this? also, wonder why when the former Finance officer was fired, for no just casue , other than correcting an untruth about finances and pushing for an ins[pection of that building? that there was no public outcry from the paper or the writer? just wondering? if your are going to write some then write it all. Robbins will survive, those town people are strong willed and can move ahead. See the Library they built! amazing when they pull together, so, they dont need anyone "stirring" up more trouble for them.
Satch2929 1 year, 4 months ago
This scathing editorial comes from the self-proclaimed intellectual-elite. Anybody who doesn’t agree with them is either stupid or corrupt. Only they have legitimate motives and views.
hometown24 1 year, 4 months ago
@difflook, you are right on target with both of your entries!! I couldn't have said it better myself. When I read this "bologna filled" jargon, I couldn't help but think about old Haybale firing the finance officer without many people blinking an eye, but let him slither out, and all of a sudden, the world is ending, and Robbins is going to self destruct without his leadership. Not likely!! Robbins will survive as they always have, and come out of this bad publicity from a largely enormous liberal newspaper, "smelling like a rose"!! I think the editor was just upset that the commissioners would not grant the newspaper an interview, whereas Haybale was ready to blab, to make himself look like the victim, no doubt, and therefore the newspaper feels like it justified itself!! But you didn't, this was POOR, POOR journalism on your part....SHAME ON YOU!!
bubbasmith 1 year, 4 months ago
A town commissioner told me that the Pilot never contacted them, so this editorial should be moved to the tabloid garbage news section.
MooreNorth 1 year, 4 months ago
Here is another fact about the theater John. Of all the things Robbins needs, this ain't it. How's the Sunrise Theater doing? Rolling in cash is it? How many jobs has it brought to Southern Pines? If it ever opens, it should be called The Robbins Boondoggle Theater. And for those who think grant money is produced from the Magical Land of Grant, or from Mr Grant from the old Mary Tyler Moore Show, ....it's your money.
Arestorer 1 year, 4 months ago
MooreNorth33 minutes ago; Seems like everywhere you look in the county, That Magical Grant money is being spent...But remember,it was never OUR TAX money...LOL
difflook 1 year, 4 months ago
I HOPE THIS IS NOT TRUE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT two of the commitee members of the Threatre group, removed their "historial artifacts" from the town display in the City Hall just after the recent election WOW, childish! Hmmm havent read that, guess you only report what you want to,
would the word BIAS?? apply here???
Green 1 year, 4 months ago
@difflook - Commissoner Holt, you go Girl!
tarheelborn 1 year, 4 months ago
@green. You are exactly correct... I'll bet there was nothing even said, about a "J/V Offer" made a Year Ago with the Town of Robbins. That is exactly why a Changing of the Guard was witnessed in the last election! Strange and Secret happenings have been going on with Moore County and Robbins and Scotland County.
As often stated, It shall ALL come out in the Wash, but there sure will be some Dirty Water!
Let's see if I can predict the outcome of Friday's meeting. County Manager Cary McSwain will come away with a deal to take the Town of Robbins to the Cleaners, like the Chicken Plant Closing, (Poor Judgment on elected officials part), but maybe not, WHO Gained from that deal? Moore County will TAKE Advantage of the Robbins Town Board this time too, because there are certain Elected Officials which will GAIN, at the expense of the poor citizens of Robbins ALL OVER AGAIN! If Moore County don't take Robbins to the cleaners, they have (Cary McSwain) and his COZY relationship with Laurinburg and Scotland County and the (Self Proclaimed Water Czar) and his (Cozy) relationship with the same and decide to enter into a relationship with "Da Burg" and Scotland County. You see, THEY BOTH have relationships down south too.... Didn't McSwain come from South Carolina? Well, let's see if a little research don't reveal some STRONG Contacts with certain Power Playing Officials "Down South" of us in Scotland County and South Carolina. As The People of MOORE County need to Examine where McSwain went to School. Then research if the "Engineering Study" which was most recently done for "Da Burg and Scotland County" was done. Then Connect the Dots and Follow the Money Trail, which Moore County will Ultimately pay for AND have been paying for ever since McSwain was hired, and even WHO was on the board when he was hired. This goes much deeper than our voting citizens realize! On another note. One might ask Where did the lady come from which was recently HIRED to Manage Moore County's MONEY? I'd be willing to bet, (if I were a betting person) she ALSO Came from South Carolina TOO! Moore County better WAKE UP before it's too late, and get rid of the very ones which control and direct our (FUTURE) DECADES if not the next CENTURY.
All we need to do is, some BASIC RESEARCH on the ones running things for Moore County and then connect them with the ones that want to HOOK into Moore County MONEY, because they have fallen on Hard Times. Everyone always wants to Capitalize off Pinehurst and Moore County! I say H*%@, NO!
More Later............
tarheelborn 1 year, 4 months ago
BTW. The Joint Venture, was NOT with Moore County, but with a Well Established Group with Great Resources, which would certainly pull Robbins out of their financial ruins. Funny how elections make such a huge difference.
riverrat 1 year, 4 months ago
Well the word is out - if you are looking for a job as a town manager - stay away from Robbins. We will kick you to the curb without any warning (even at our first meeting as a new council) - without telling you our expectations or giving you the chance to do the job. We are Robbins, NC!