Commissioners Peppered With Questions

by Thadd White - March 15th, 2011 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

The Bertie County Commissioners received more citizen feedback here Monday.

During their regular meeting, the board heard from nearly a dozen of the approximately 80 people who attended the meeting. Most of those who spoke did so to oppose the salary increase given to Bertie County Manager Zee Lamb in August of 2009.

Several of the citizens spoke concerning the 14-page statement released by the commissioners explaining why the board chose to increase Lamb’s salary and travel allowance by approximately 46 percent 18 months ago.

The first person to speak was Ron Wesson. He said that it was his third time addressing the board and said no citizen looked forward to the task.

“I ask this body to vote to retract that increase,” Wesson said of the salary raise for the county manager.

It does not appear that this outrage about the raise is going away. The County Commissioners must end their arrogant indifference to the citizens of this county and rescind this raise. Do they really not understand how ignorant this action was? Do they really not care what the citizens think?