First Posted: 7/18/2012

FAIRMONT — An ordinance that has been in place for more than 30 years should be all the proof the county needs that the town is enforcing it, the Fairmont Board of Commissioners decided at Tuesday’s meeting.

Commissioner Wade Sealey said he was “not too thrilled” about the Robeson County Planning Department’s request for a resolution from the board stating the town is enforcing its subdivision ordinance that’s been in place since 1977.

“Ordinance is like a town law, and it has more power behind it than a resolution,” Town Manager Linda Vause said. “Our board felt that since we already have an ordinance in place, that should be sufficient.”

In other business, Vause was recognized for her efforts as town manager, a position for which she was hired on Dec. 20, 2011, after serving as the interim manager as well as the finance manager for nine months.

As he presented her with a framed certificate of appreciation, Mayor Charles Kemp said hiring Vause was “one of the wisest and best decisions a Fairmont town board has made in my 35 years of service.”

“I am very pleased and proud to state that my observations of Ms. Vause’s service since taking the position has been nothing short of stellar,” he said. “Her knowledge of budget processes, financial matters, and wise fiscal policy has served this town well.”

Also at the meeting, Kemp made an emotional request for the board to take a moment to honor those who have lost their lives in recent violence — two recent Fairmont High graduates who died in a car accident last week, a man shot to death outside of his Fairmont home on Sunday and a Lumberton police officer who was killed Tuesday while serving a warrant.

“I’d like to hold a moment of silence for Tyreke Addison, Nokolma Hunt, John Ross Kissam, and Lumberton police Officer Jeremiah Goodson, who have left us in the last eight days,” he said. “We are a family here in Fairmont, and we must now adopt those family and friends who were affected by those tragedies and extend our love to them at this dark time.”

Also on Tuesday, the board declared the Callahan TV building on Main Street as surplus property and discussed the possibility of creating an ordinance to allow golf carts on Fairmont roads.

Commissioners Kim Ammons and Charles Townsend were absent.