FAIRMONT — The Fairmont Board of Commissioners on Tuesday extended a three-year contract to Town Manager Katrina Tatum, although two board members say the last-minute addition to the agenda should have been addressed during budget talks.

The contract would represent a pay hike over what she is now receiving.

At the start of the meeting, Commissioner Terry Evans asked to have discussion of Tatum’s contract added to the agenda, saying he didn’t want to lose a manager already moving the town forward in her four months on the job.

“I cannot afford to have people this close to my back door looking for a town manager with what she has brought to this town,” Evans said.

Tatum replaced manager and Finance director Linda Vause, who had asked that her manager duties be scaled back amid health problems. Months before hiring Tatum, the board budgeted $26,650 to pay a full-time manager for half of a fiscal year, adding up to a yearly salary of $53,300.

Tatum indicated she would accept the contract, which would take effect July 1 and would pay her $62,700 a year.

Commissioners Charles Kemp and J.J. McCree voted in opposition, saying the contract adds up to a raise they weren’t prepared to consider since commissioners have not yet reviewed the town’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

“To preemptively give one employee — even though it’s the town manager — a large increase such as this without considering other employees and how they would fit into the scheme of the budget, I think, was premature and it should not have happened tonight and it certainly should not have happened the way it happened tonight,” Kemp said.

McCree said proposals for raises should be across-the-board.

“We’ve lost key police officers because they are underpaid,” McCree said. “The entire staff should get a raise.”

At the start of the meeting, Fairmont Police Chief Kimothy Monroe introduced four new officers — Kelvin Smith, who previously worked for the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office; Andre Grant, previously with the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office; William Spivey, who served with from Fair Bluff and Tabor City police; and Christopher McManus, a recent graduate of Robeson Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program who joins the force Friday.

“We’re trying to start a new trend here and let the public know who is serving on their behalf,” Monroe said.

In other business, the board:

— Held a public hearing on annexing two parcels of land on Chicken Road near Interstate 95 at the request of the property owners. The town needs legislative permission to annex the parcels because they are more than three miles outside of town limits. Tatum said a bill is being drafted in the state legislature. No one spoke during the hearing.

— Amended a town ordinance on telephone participation during meetings. The amended policy says commissioners can join regular meetings by phone six times per calendar year, with no limits for special meetings. Only two commissioners may join a meeting by phone at a time, on a first-come, first-served basis. The change was prompted to accommodate Commissioner Amelia McLean, who has been ill.

— Accepted the Fairmont Development Corporation’s offer to pay for a 30-by-40-foot dance area in Fairmont Community Park, with a projected cost of $5,500. For $50, donors can have their names placed on bricks in the dance floor, with the proceeds going toward construction.

— Heard from Key McKee, the owner of McKee-Craft Boats, who said his company is looking to locate in Fairmont. McKee said the company closed about six years ago following an acquisition. He asked the board to consider incentives or financial support so that the business could build or renovate a manufacturing facility in town. The operation would create about 55 jobs, he said.

— Announced that letters are being mailed to residents adjacent to two bridges on Mitchell and Floyd streets about a public hearing on closing the bridges. The hearing will be June 21 at 6 p.m.

— Appointed Tatum as the town’s fair housing officer in order to comply with requirements for a grant.

— Tabled discussion about allowing town employees to apply unused sick leave to their total years of service with the town so that they can claim post-retirement health insurance benefits.

— Agreed to pay a $10.43 per month electrical bill for a street light on Pittman Street, which was requested by residents.

— Accepted a $2,000 offer to purchase property at 505 Gertrude St.

— Adopted a resolution making official a service agreement for police officers approved last month.

— Added to the town code standards for non-residential maintenance and safety and protocols for code enforcement and demolition of non-residential buildings deemed unsafe.

— Proclaimed May as Older Americans Month.

— Appointed Dwayne McCormick, Winona Gause and Terry Hunt to the Planning Board.

— Announced that the Fairmont Economic Development Committee will meet May 24 at noon at Town Hall.

Sarah Willets | The Robesonian Fairmont Police Chief Kimothy Monroe, right, introduces new officers at the town board meeting Tuesday. They are, from left to right, Christopher McManus, William Spivey, Andre Grant and Kelvin Smith.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_new-fairmont-officers.jpgSarah Willets | The Robesonian Fairmont Police Chief Kimothy Monroe, right, introduces new officers at the town board meeting Tuesday. They are, from left to right, Christopher McManus, William Spivey, Andre Grant and Kelvin Smith.

Katrina Tatum
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Tatum__Katrina.jpgKatrina Tatum
Has been Fairmont manager 4 months

By Sarah Willets

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Sarah Willets can be reached at 910-816-1974 or on Twitter @Sarah_Willets.