December 28, 2016
Two Sections – 16 Pages
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INDEX Calendar Classifieds Features Here & There
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Year in Review 2016:
Town manager relieved of duties is top story Compiled by ADELAIDE ELLIOTT, Intern, and CAROL BROOKS, Editor Part 1 As “A Prairie Home Companion’s” Garrison Keillor was fond of saying, “it was a quiet week in Lake Woebegon.” For the most part, 2016 in Jamestown could be considered quiet. The major kerfuffle occurred the end of August when Town Manager Chuck Smith was relieved of his duties after five and a half years. Former manager Cookie Billings is currently serving as interim manager. That story can be found in Part 2 of the Year in Review in next week’s Jamestown News. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy looking back over the past year in Jamestown. January • Jamestown bypass project set to begin in 2019. • To the dismay of motorists and neighbors, the North Carolina Department of Transportation forces owners to remove a large, illuminated, Christmas star
hung over Guilford Road. • New shop, Vintage Audio Exchange, gives Jamestown residents a new destination to buy and sell audio equipment and accessories. • Greensboro’s Scott Harvey claims his fifth consecutive Carolinas Men’s Player of the Year award. February • Flint, Mich., water crisis sparks concerns over lead in Jamestown’s water. Town officials confirmed there was no reason to worry over lead pipes in Jamestown. • Former company near Jamestown partially responsible for human carcinogen in water flowing into Randleman Reservoir. • Guilford County Schools Superintendent
Maurice O. “Mo” Green receives North Carolina A&T State University’s Human Rights Medal. • GTCC debuts architect’s drawings for renovations of the former Daimler bus facility on Gate City Boulevard. • Local Resident Jo Marsom shares her love of reading by setting up a “Little Free Library” in front of her home in Sedgefield.
JO MARSOM • Jamestown resident Robert Lewis Dillard is the first person to be con-
Council extends Billings’ contract into new year By JANE WHITEHORNE Staff Writer The Jamestown Town Council agreed Dec. 20 to extend interim Town Manager Kathryn “Cookie” Billings’ contract until August 2017, but not without questions about how her compensation is being handled. When Billings was hired in September to fill in until a permanent town manager could be found, plans were for council to review the position at the end of the year. Because a new manager is not in place as yet, it was recommended that Billings continue to serve, on a month-to-month basis, until August, if necessary. “The finance director has worked out a plan to allow me to continue to serve in an interim position for as long as eight months, timing it out with a 30-hour week,” said Billings. “I have a cap on the hours I can do in a calendar year (due to retirement restrictions). I can’t think of any
way you would need me for that length of time at all. My assumption is that February or March might be all you would need me before you have that position in place.” Councilmember Lawrence Straughn moved to extend the interim position until a new manager could be hired. However, before the motion was seconded, discussion about how Billings’ compensation is handled ensued. Councilmember Lynn Montgomery questioned why an annualized salary was being divided by eight months instead of 12 to determine Billings’ monthly compensation. An annualized salary is based on 12 months, but wages are earned only for the time worked. Billings is being paid for 30 hours per week for the months she works. If she remains on the job until June 30, there is a salary cap of $45,000. The provision for her to remain in place until August provides some flexibility at which point her hours can be extended. After the discussion, Montgomery seconded the motion and it carried with
a 3-1 vote. Georgia NixonRoney cast the sole negative vote. She wished to be more fully apprised on the matter before voting. “Cookie has done a phenomenal job and, in my opinion, was the only person for the job,” said Nixon-Roney. “I am so appreciative that she is here. But we need to move on.” In other business, town staff, in coordination with Piedmont Triad Regional Council, has been working to update personnel policies. These policies are thoroughly reviewed every few years. Citing lack of time to study the policies, Straughn moved to table the matter until the council’s January meeting with the exception of giving staff a three-day Christmas break. This move passed unanimously. January 17 was set for a public hearing on annexation of property owned by Koury Corp.
victed under a new commercial sex trafficking law in Virginia. • Three out of four schools selected as 2016 State Schools of Character in North Carolina are Guilford County Schools. March • Jamestown Town Council approves participation in the expansion of the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority plant that would allow Jamestown Mickey Peeler presents Madison name plaque to to receive an additional RHS Principal James Gibson. 100,000 gallons of water a day. • Local resident Mary state for having the highest • NewBridge Bank on Clark opens “Endorfuns” breakfast participation of East Main Street is robbed. • Media Center at a fitness center on West any North Carolina school district. Ragsdale High School hon- Main Street. • Guilford County • Guilford County ors former principal T.G. Schools’ Nutrition Services Association of Educators Madison. receive honor from the sponsor a “Read Across America” event in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and gives out more than 100 books to families at the public library and to students in afterschool programs. • The Historic Jamestown Society continues to find unique ways to raise funds for ongoing projects with items like pens created from salvaged wood from the Mendenhall Homeplace. April • Union Hill Elementary School opens a “Think Big Reading Room” to promote leisure reading for children. “Think Big Reading Rooms” is a concept created by former presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson Students began to enjoy new reading room at Union and his wife Candy. Hill Elementary School on the first day it opened. See REVIEW, page A5
Lisa Hawley receives humanitarian award
On Dec. 19, the High Point Human Relations Commission bestowed Lisa Hawley with its annual Humanitarian Award at the City Council meeting. Nominations were received from the public by mail, fax, email and online submission from Nov. 1 through Dec. 2 by completing a standard application to reflect the nominee’s work. Hawley was selected at the December High Point Human Relations Commission monthly meeting by Commission vote. Consideration for the award was based on: • Contributions made benefited traditionally underrepresented individuals and diverse groups, including, but not limited to, racial and ethnic minorities, females and the Jane E. Whitehorne can socially and economically be reached at 336-841- disadvantaged; • Promotion of equi4933 or jamestownlegals@ ty through work with an northstate.net.
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Lisa Hawley helps with food delivery from St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. employer, faith-based institution, civic group and/or community organization; • Commitment to the promotion of the understand-
ing, respect and goodwill among all citizens; • Nominee has risen above and beyond the call See HAWLEY, page A3
Holiday Closings • The Jamestown News office will be closed Jan. 2 for New Year’s. All articles and advertising should be submitted by Dec. 29 at noon for the Jan. 4 issue. • Town Hall will be closed Jan. 2 for New Year’s. • The Jamestown Public Library will be closed Dec. 31 for New Year’s Eve.