05/09/06 — McDonald's last day set for May 22

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McDonald's last day set for May 22

By Turner Walston
Published in News on May 9, 2006 1:51 PM

MOUNT OLIVE -- Current Town Manager Ray McDonald's last official day as boss in Mount Olive will be May 22.

After that, the assistant he has been training will take over the reigns, full-time.

The town commissioners voted last week to make Charles Brown town manager as of May 23. He has been training with McDonald since mid-February.

McDonald said he is ready to let someone else help direct Mount Olive's future.

"When you get to be 70 years old, it's time to go," McDonald said. With a laugh, he clarified that he was not implying that Mayor Ruff Huggins, who is 81, should resign.

"Keep up the good work. You are doing a good job," McDonald told the town board members. "It's not about an individual. It's about us, all of us."

McDonald will be available in an advisory capacity if needed, board members decided. He will be paid $25 per hour plus expenses if called upon.

"Keep doing what you're doing. You've come a long way," McDonald told the board. "If you work together as a board, you can do some great things for this town."

In other business, commissioners asked town attorney Carroll Turner, to draft an ordinance prohibiting the blocking of alleys.

The board also adopted Wayne County's Solid Waste Management plan and officially approved the $9 million contract with Seaside Utilities of Myrtle Beach, S.C., for improvements to the town's wastewater treatment plant.