Lamb’s Salary Questioned

by Thadd White - February 10th, 2011 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

More than 50 people gathered here Monday night to express concerns about a salary increase given to the Bertie County Manager... According to information from the North Carolina Institute of Government, the salary of Bertie County Manager Zee Lamb was increased from $101,725 in 2010 to $144,000 in 2011. That $42,275 increase was the subject of discussion amongst those who spoke at the public comment section... Lamb’s salary is higher than any of the four county managers in the region. Hertford County Manager Loria D. Williams is paid $94,961 while Northampton County Manager Wayne Jenkins is slightly behind at $92,795. Gates County Manager Toby Chappell makes $80,508 annually.

I am appalled at the increase, yet I am also concerned that the increase be blamed on Zee Lamb. It is intellectually dishonest to deny a person their right to get the best deal for themselves they can get. The problem is not Zee. The problem is the County Commissioners -- who do not seem to understand the idea that they are responsible to protect the people's interests. They failed. There is simply no way that granting anyone a 42% raise in these tough economic times is in the public interest or morally defensible. What in the world were these Commissioners thinking? They still do not "get it." Why do they think it is moral to stonewall the public and refuse to answer the questions being asked? Because that is what they are doing. This is just as arrogant as their first mistake.