Hope Mills board declares commissioner's seat vacant
By Donnie Sewell
The Sandspur
The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to officially declare the fifth board seat vacant at its regular meeting Monday.
The board will consider candidates to fill the seat at its March 15 meeting. The person the board chooses will be sworn in at its April 5 meeting.
Commissioners Bob Gorman, Tonzie Collins and Terry W. Smith voted to declare a vacancy. Commissioner Eddie Maynor was absent.
Tina Odom won the seat in the November general election, but a challenge to her residency led the board to decide not to swear her into office in December.
The Cumberland County Board of Elections upheld a challenge to Odom's town residency in December. Odom lost a Superior Court appeal of the elections board ruling in February. She said Friday she was not going to appeal Judge E. Lynn Johnson's ruling.
Odom filed for the state House of Representatives District 45 race Friday. She will face Rep. Rick Glazier in the Democratic primary.
The town has been accepting letters of interest to fill the board seat. The board voted to set a noon deadline Friday for letters of interest. Nine people have submitted letters of interest, including former Commissioner Doris Luther who finished sixth in the general election six votes behind Odom.
Those who have submitted letters of interest as of Monday night are Luther, Jerry Legge, William Stackhouse, Frances Vinell Jackson, Larry Hoard, Edwin Nazario Sr., Deric Reed, Michael Mitchell and Edwin Deaver.
Legge, Luther, Jackson, Nazario, Deaver and Mitchell all ran for the board in November.
Mayor Eddie Dees questioned whether the town needed to wait until March 15 to choose someone to fill the seat and swear them in.
Town Attorney John Jackson said he was comfortable with the board choosing someone for the seat March 15, but he recommended the new commissioner not be sworn in until April 5 to allow Odom's appeal period to expire.
Jackson said the last day Odom could file an appeal is March 20.
Other business
The board voted to approve an agreement with N.C. State University for the planning and design of Hope Mills Lake Park and Heritage Park. It also approved $5,650 to pay for the project.
The agreement will allow the school's College of Design Extension Service to develop plans for a new park on the south side of Lakeview Road.
The board approved the purchase of equipment and installation for eight new police vehicles from B&G Electronics for $82,838.87.
The board appointed Winton G. McHenry to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. His term will expire February 2013.
The board approved the display of the Spring Litter Sweep banner from the Hope Mills Lake gazebo. The litter sweep will be held at 9 a.m. April 17.
The board recognized four new police officers who were sworn in during a ceremony before the board meeting. Officers Dawn Kowal Warren, Bradley Alan Dean, Alan Shane Owens and Anthony Christopher Day were introduced by Chief Robert Hassell.
Dees read a proclamation declaring March 8-14 as 2010 Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. Representatives from four MS Walk teams attended the meeting.
Staff writer Donnie Sewell can be reached at sewelld@fayobserver.com or 486-3570.