Spring Lake mayor sees a partner in rebuilding effort in new town manager
Spring Lake Mayor Kia Anthony said the professionalism, expertise and team spirit of Justine Jones are the qualities that make her the best choice for town manager.
Jones left the same role in Kenly after a little more than a month, under allegations from the police chief and others that she fostered a toxic work environment. An investigation in Kenly found Jones did nothing wrong, and specific allegations have never been made public.
The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen voted 3-2 on Monday to hire Jones, at a salary one alderman said would exceed $100,000.
In an interview with WRAL's Ken Smith, Anthony said, who was elected in November 2021, acknowledged Spring Lake's history of financial and leadership problems.
"We really focus on team building here," she said.
"She (Jones) embodies that spirit of unity and cohesiveness, togetherness that we really need here in Spring Lake through all of the things that we've gone through back to back: 500-year hurricanes, the pandemic, the embezzlement charges and the audit findings. Employees have been run through the ringer."
The state Local Government Commission took control of Spring Lake's finances in October 2021, citing concerns that the town would default on debts. At the time, the Spring Lake budget showed an estimated deficit of $1.2 million. The budget crafted by the Local Government Commission that took effect in July for 2022-23 is balanced at a little more than $8 million, with $544,994 going to service debt.
"We are working so hard to rebuild," Anthony said, "not just economically or rebuild our infrastructure. We are concerned about human infrastructure as well, and we're concerned about the health and welfare, mentally and emotionally, of our employees."
