BY MILES LAYTON
EDENTON — Public comment at Tuesday’s Edenton Town Council meeting centered on one issue: support for Town Manager Corey Gooden, whose leadership drew praise from residents as council prepared to amend his employment contract.
The contract change, approved unanimously later in the meeting, raises Gooden’s salary from $136,600 to $160,000, retroactive to July 1, 2025, and guarantees annual three percent increases through 2028. By the end of the contract term, his salary will reach nearly $175,000. The decision came after months of discussion about retaining Gooden, who was recruited earlier this year by another coastal community.
“You can’t find any better person”
Longtime resident and local businessman Larry Sellers, a vocal cheerleader for Edenton and a man who is always in a good mood, was the first to speak, urging council to finalize the contract without hesitation.
“I’m here pushing for Corey’s contract to be done,” Sellers said. “You can’t find any better person than Corey up here. And I’m positive if you don’t, you’ll have another job within a couple weeks. He’ll leave Edenton, and we don’t need to have him leave Edenton.”
Sellers added that, if necessary, he would personally help raise funds to ensure Gooden’s salary remained competitive. “It’s well worth it for the town,” he told council.
Worth noting, if Larry backs someone, you’re a good leader/person.
Recognition for statewide work
Other residents highlighted Gooden’s performance beyond Town Hall. Tourism Development Authority Board member Karen Foley cited a recent presentation by Gooden and Mainstreet Edenton Executive Director Chess Chesson before the Local Government Commission (LGC) in Raleigh.
“I have to just say how proud I am of Corey and Chess for the presentation they gave and their succinct answers and their professionalism,” Foley said. “It made a big difference there in getting things going in the direction we want.”
The pair secured LGC approval for a financing agreement tied to Project Teapot, an economic development initiative involving a new market structure and nonprofit partnership.
Gooden described the approval as “big news” for Edenton. “We’re one step closer to bringing Project Teapot home,” he said. “It was a huge announcement for us today, and we’re smiling from ear to ear.”
Comparing Edenton to other towns
Edenton resident Joe Wach offered a broader perspective, drawing on a recent 21-state road trip with his wife, Stephanie.
“In that tour, we saw many, many small towns,” Wach said. “And these small towns all had one thing in common—most of them are dying. When we came back into Edenton, we were so thrilled to be back in our home. This town is thriving. That’s not by chance.”
Wach credited Gooden with translating council’s policy decisions into tangible results, citing public-private partnerships and grant funding that have supported new projects.
“Towns like this don’t just happen,” Wach said. “Those decisions don’t mean anything if they don’t get carried out. You need a town manager that can make them a reality, and this man sitting right here is doing an outstanding job for you.”
Wach acknowledged public criticism on social media about Gooden’s pay increase but argued the return on investment justified the decision.
“People weren’t complaining that we weren’t paying Corey enough. But when you decided to give this man a raise, everybody started complaining,” Wach said. “The ROI on Mr. Gooden being here with his knowledge of public-private partnerships, state grants, federal grants — the amount of money that flows into this town — is way worth more than this small increase in his salary.”
Council’s unanimous vote
After hearing public comment, council voted without opposition to approve Gooden’s contract amendment. The move locks in his leadership through at least July 2028.
Mayor Hackney High, who does not vote except to break ties, underscored the significance of the decision. “We’ve seen a tremendous amount of progress,” High said. “And it’s clear the public wants to see us keep things moving.”
The outcome capped a night when citizen after citizen urged council to value stability in its top administrative position. For Sellers, Foley, Watt, and others, the message was simple: Edenton’s growth and vitality are closely tied to the leadership of its town manager.