Citizens Question Lamb’s Pay Hike

by Thadd White - March 1st, 2011 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

“Ya’ll have a problem,” Bertie County Republican Party Chairman Garry Terry said. “Citizens are here to ask for an explanation as to the incredible increase in the county manager’s salary.”

Terry told the board they had the opportunity to show leadership and answer the questions of the citizens...

... John Davis, said he had received a copy of the contract between the Bertie County Commissioners and Lamb.

He said he didn’t know how other county employees felt since only Lamb and Assistant County Manager Morris Rascoe had received raises, but he knew how he would feel in their place.

He also questioned Lamb’s performance as County Manager.

“I can’t find a single statistic the county manager leads the region in,” he said. “Please tell us one statistic that he leads the region.”

It is unfortunate - however clearly Lamb leads the region in one statistic - the percent of salary increase for a single year. And in that statistic he is WAY ahead. It still astounds me that these County Commissioners think that there is any defense for raising the County Manager of a small county like Bertie to a salary level that is higher than the Governor of our State.

To actually try and defend this, as our County Commissioners are doing, is an insult. They must think we are stupid. They are clearly overly impressed with the belief that they are the center of the universe. They obviously do not believe that running the State is any more difficult than ruling Bertie County. Because that is the bottom line. They do not think they serve the county. They think they rule the county. The question is, will we let them continue this arrogant belief?