Librarian to serve as temporary HR chief for county
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 20, 2014 1:46 PM
sherring@newsargus.com
Jerilyn Lee is temporarily trading her library books to serve as interim director for the Wayne County Human Resources Department.
Mrs. Lee currently manages the Steele Memorial Library in Mount Olive, but has an extensive background in hu-man resources.
Last Wednesday was her first day on the job, and she will continue as interim director while the county conducts a search for a permanent director.
She is filling the office left vacant when former director Sue Guy was fired by County Manager George Wood.
Mrs. Lee is expected to serve until Wood hires the county's first assistant county manager.
Wood said Monday that the assistant manager would then serve as interim director until a full-time director can be hired.
Wood expects to hire an assistant manager within the next month.
The county will advertise the human resources director's job, he said.
Mrs. Lee will be paid monthly based on an annual salary of $89,591. Once she leaves the office, she will return to her library work.
"During the time Jerilyn is serving as interim HR director, the assistant branch manager, Melanie Powell will keep things running smoothly at the library," Wayne County Library Director Donna Phillips said. "We will also assign some existing part-time staff members additional work hours to cover some of the hours Jerilyn would have worked on the service desk at the library."
"Mrs. Lee has a very extensive background in HR, and we are fortunate to have her fill this position," Wood said. "We appreciate her willingness to undertake this temporary assignment."
Mrs. Lee was employed with UniFirst Corp. for 37 years, retiring in 2012 as regional human resources manager for the company's Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Regions.
She is a summa cum laude graduate of Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive) with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She holds certification in Industrial Safety from the N.C. Safety School, and certification from the University of Maryland in executive management.
She previously served on the board of directors for the North Carolina Association of Textile Services, the North Carolina Statewide Safety Conference Council, the Eastern Carolina Safety Council, and the Business Advisory Council for Wayne Community College.
She is a past president of the Wayne County Human Resources Association.
Wood said that Mrs. Guy was fired for "egregious" actions and a failure to do her job.
Mrs. Guy, who has worked with the county since July 23, 2003, has denied the allegations made by Wood in his termination letter to her.
She has sought legal counsel and has said that she will submit a reply to the letter.