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Vol. 38 No. 38
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Smith suddenly leaves town manager position By CAROL BROOKS Editor
Everything old is new again – to some extent. On Monday morning, Aug. 29, Chuck Smith was the town manager of Jamestown. On Thursday evening of the same week, Smith’s predecessor, Cookie Billings, came out of retirement to assume the position of interim town manager. Many in Jamestown were surprised to learn that Smith would no longer be holding the position of town manager. Some were relieved. Late Monday, Smith sent an email to city and county managers, town staff and the Jamestown News that announced Monday, Aug. 29, was his last day with the town. No further information was available from Smith at press time, but he indicated to this newspaper he would issue a statement at some point. The Town Council met in a special called meeting
on Sept. 1 that included a closed session to discuss a personnel matter. Following the closed session, the Council voted to hire Billings on an interim basis. “It was time to part ways,” said Mayor Keith Volz of Smith’s departure. “We wish Chuck lots of luck.” Smith’s departure comes in the wake of the resignation of Town Planner Carrie Spencer earlier this month to become Planning Director of Summerfield. Her last day was Aug. 16. Long-time Golf Pro Michael Hutcheon was no longer employed by the Town as of July 1. Smith, 46, joined the Town as director of public works in January 2007. In addition to those duties, in June 2010 he was named assistant town manager by Billings, who was town manager at the time. When Billings retired in October of that year, Smith assumed the town manager position, “amid acrimony,” according to a Jamestown News headline at the time. The acrimony was apparently
not directed at Smith personally, but the procedure with which he was hired. The Town Council at that time was made up of Georgia Nixon-Roney, Frank Gray, Brock Thomas and Will Ragsdale, with Keith Volz as mayor. Only Nixon-Roney and Volz remain in those positions. Following an open Town Council meeting on Oct. 4, 2010, Ogi Overman, then editor of the Jamestown News, reported: “The council immediately voted to go into closed session, but not before several of the dozen citizens in attendance peppered them with questions about the legality of the meeting and their assumption that Assistant Town Manager Chuck Smith was going to be promoted to the position being vacated by the retirement of current manager Cookie Billings. “At a few moments after 9 p.m., the council emerged from the closed session and announced that Smith had, in fact, been selected as Jamestown’s new town manager effective Jan. 1,
2011.” The News went on to report: “For the next 48 minutes something between discussion, dissonance and discord ensued. The 12 people who had been in attendance earlier had now swelled to 15. All have been vocal critics of the town, its staff and the town council on a number of issues in the past, but on this night they were united in their opposition, not to Smith personally but the fact that the council chose not to look outside its ranks and open up a search for the best (File photo/Carol Brooks) qualified candidate. Chuck Smith took the oath of office in 2011 to become “You came out here Jamestown Town Manager. and shoved it down our throats, you shut us down,” screamed Carl Galloni, that. But we’ve got some- Jamestown News, Smith re“when all we asked was body with all this experi- sponded: “I know there are that you go out and find six ence, somebody who’s al- questions out there about people, with Chuck being ready wired into the town, whether I am the best canone of them, and pick the I think it would be crazy didate for the job,” he said, best from among them.” not to give that person the “and in my mind and in my Others in the audience opportunity. He’s got to heart I know I am. Without agreed that the Council was step up and perform for a doubt I knew I could do not listening to the con- this town, but we would this job, and once I said cerns of the town. not give him this position if yes there were no second Councilmember Rags- we did not have confidence thoughts.” dale argued, “I understand that he would do that.” See MANAGER, about the job search, I get In the Oct. 13, 2010, page A3
Park clubhouse opens to public back. Rockers allow guests
By NORMA B. DENNIS to gather socially or just to Staff Writer enjoy time to reflect and
The newly renovated Jamestown Park golf course and clubhouse officially reopened Sept. 3 with a public open house. But some invited guests were able to enjoy a preview of the building and course on Friday. Included in the group were town staff, members of the Town Council, former council and Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee; the architect; community businesses leaders and, of course, the golf course planning committee. Airy, bright and roomy are three of the best words that describe the clubhouse. A large room that can be petitioned into two spaces greets visitors as they walk in the front door. The window to a grill area, which will open soon, faces this part of the clubhouse. A room across the back overlooks the 9th and 11th greens and includes a fireplace. Both rooms have access to the pro shop, which is double in size to the previous one. A small concession area also is now part of the pro shop. A large wrap-around patio has been fitted with an outdoor fireplace in the
enjoy the view. The clubhouse can be rented for meetings, family reunions or any number of events. Following a box lunch, which was prepared by Box Seat for Friday’s guests, a large number of guests who wanted to play golf took to the course. It was more like a competition with the weather than each other, but each team was able to finish their rounds of play. See page B1 for photos and information about the course. Norma B. Dennis can be reached at 336-841-4933 or jamestownnews@north state.net.
(Photos/Norma B. Dennis Bottom left/Carol Brooks)