Discusses Town Manager Position in Executive Session

BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON

EDENTON – The Edenton Town Council held a special meeting and committee meeting Monday night (Aug. 25, 2025) to move forward with work regarding dilapidated homes, restarting a partnership between John A. Holmes High School and the Fire Department, and an executive session to discuss the town manager position currently held by Corey Gooden.

Closed Session on Town Manager

While no formal vote was taken during the closed session, Councilmemebers Craig Miller and Aaron Coston indicated that the council reached a consensus on the matter.

They expected council to take action at its regular September meeting.

The closed session was to “To consider the conditions of initial employment of the Town Manager,” according to the agenda.

In August 2024, the town council approved a new contract with Town Manager Corey Gooden for $124,000, a pay increase from $122,000 in the previous contract year. The town manager position is hired through an annual contract.

Minimum Housing Actions

The council addressed three properties under minimum housing ordinances:

• 124 East Carteret Street: Granted an extension after newly informed property owners requested time to address violations on the foreclosure property listed for $55,000.
• 148 Paxton Lane: Authorized demolition of a long-abandoned property after owners indicated they would not object to demolition.
• 700 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive: Granted 90 days for property improvements, with the council noting this property could potentially be salvaged unlike others requiring demolition.

Assistant Town Manager Dewayne Whealton noted ongoing challenges with properties in tax foreclosure status, which complicates both enforcement and potential town recovery of demolition costs.

Council asked that after the extension, the town put a lien on the properties for each day the residence is out of compliance.

Fire Department Partnership with Schools Approved

In other business, the council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding between Edenton-Chowan Schools and the Edenton Fire Department. The agreement will establish a firefighter technical program at John A. Holmes High School through the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.

Fire Chief Billy Bass explained that the program, which has operated statewide since 1996, will give high school students hands-on experience in fire service and EMS. Four juniors have already signed up for the program, which is scheduled to start in January.

“This gives them a chance to get into the fire side, EMS side and public safety side of the world,” Bass said. Students will complete Fire 1, Fire 2, and Fire 3 certifications over three semesters, lacking only live burn training, which must be completed after graduation.

The fire department will provide apparatus, ladders, and equipment for the 90-minute daily classes, while the school system provides the instructor.

ARP Funds Debate Continues

Council again tabled a decision on how to allocate remaining American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds totaling $47,531. The funds were originally designated for housing assistance but staff recommended redirecting them to parks and recreation projects.

Town Manager Corey Gooden explained that five park rehabilitation projects have exceeded budget by approximately $20,000. The remaining $27,000 would fund additional amenities suggested by community members, such as pickleball nets, gaga ball courts, and sand volleyball courts.

However, several council members expressed concerns about abandoning the housing program entirely. Coston argued that the town hadn’t adequately publicized the housing assistance program, while Councilmember Elton Bond noted receiving recent inquiries from residents needing help with home repairs ahead of winter.

The housing program, which partnered with USDA for home renovations, faced challenges with property title issues and limited applicant success.

The council requested detailed cost estimates for park projects before making a final decision.

Police Department Reorganization Proposed

The Administrative Committee forwarded a proposal for reorganizing the police department to the full council, which will meet in September. Chief David LaFon requested replacing the current police captain and detective sergeant positions with two lieutenant positions — one focused on operations and patrol, the other on administration and evidence management.

The reorganization aims to address increasing technological and computer-based requirements while maintaining the same staffing levels at potentially lower cost. Chief Affan indicated the changes would save approximately $1,000 monthly in salaries.

The committee also endorsed increasing part-time auxiliary officer pay from $15 to $26.44 per hour to match the base pay of full-time officers, making the positions more competitive with neighboring departments.

Other items

The Public Works Committee forwarded a recommendation to extend the current 45 mph speed limit on Queen Street past its current endpoint at Albania Street closer to the downtown area. The change is being considered in preparation for upcoming construction work on the Pembroke Creek bridge.

The newest member of the Edenton Preservation Commission, Brian Towners, took the oath of office at the start of the special meeting.

The full council is expected to vote on the police reorganization, auxiliary pay increase, and speed limit change at their September regular meeting.