Mount Olive could name new town manager this week
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on February 12, 2006 2:11 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- A member of the town of Mount Olive's committee searching for a new town manager said he expects Mayor Ruff Huggins to call a meeting this week and possibly decide who will get the job.
Jimmy Kornegay said the Mount Olive town commissioners had an interview this week with the final two candidates out of 15 who have applied for the job of assistant town manager. The new assistant town manager would work with retiring TownManager Ray McDonald until he or she is comfortable taking over McDonald's job.
McDonald announced in November that will retire as soon as possible. He has been town manager seven years. He was the mayor of Mount Olive for 13 years and then spent three years on the town board. He also has served as a Wayne County commissioner.
Kornegay said the last two candidates innterviewed made good impressions.
"I think either one of them could do the job," he said. "This is a big step, and we don't need to rush on it."
But the town commissioners will hold their first budget workshop Wednesday morning, and the mayor has asked the two finalists if they would be able to attend the workshop if they were hired. Both indicated they could attend if they're hired before the workshop, he said.
It will take three town commissioners to approve the hiring, but Kornegay said he hopes the decision is unanimous.
"I can't say for anybody else, but I am well pleased," he said. "I feel a lot better about it than I did a couple weeks ago. We have two well-qualified people. I could honestly live with either choice."