- November 13, 2021
- Comments: 0
- Posted by: admin
Sunny. High near 70F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..
Clear skies. Low 43F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: November 13, 2021 @ 1:38 pm
Outgoing Emerald Isle Commissioner Jim Normile, center, speaks Tuesday night after receiving a proclamation from outgoing Mayor Eddie Barber, right, as Mr. Normile’s wife, Elaine Normile, listens. (Brad Rich screenshot)
Outgoing Emerald Isle Commissioner Jim Normile, center, speaks Tuesday night after receiving a proclamation from outgoing Mayor Eddie Barber, right, as Mr. Normile’s wife, Elaine Normile, listens. (Brad Rich screenshot)
EMERALD ISLE — The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday to use money from the town’s first American Recovery Plan Act disbursement to provide $2,400 bonuses to employees.
The action, at the urging of Mayor Eddie Barber, came during the board’s monthly session in the meeting room off Highway 58 and virtually via GoToWebinar.
“I really wanted them to get this before Christmas,” Mayor Barber said. “We have a great staff.”
The money – $100 for each month over the two years of the coronavirus pandemic – went to each full-time town employee.
Commissioner Jim Normile called the decision important, particularly for police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service workers who have worked closely with the public, risking exposure.
Commissioner Floyd Messer urged Mr. Normile – who like Mr. Barber chose not to run for reelection this month – to make the motion to approve the expenditure.
“This would be an excellent final motion for you to make,” Mr. Messer said.
It passed without debate.
The town received $588,794 in ARPA money this year and will get the same amount sometime in 2022.
The meeting was the last full one for Mr. Barber, who served two consecutive four-year terms, and for Mr. Normile, who was appointed to his seat on the commission Aug. 27, 2014, following the death of Commissioner Nita Hedreen. He was elected to two additional terms and has served as one of the town’s representatives on the Carteret County Beach Commission. He is now chairperson of that panel, and the Emerald Isle board reappointed him to that panel Tuesday night.
Both outgoing politicians got praise from the others on the commission and from town manager Matt Zapp.
“It has been an honor to work under Eddie Barber’s leadership and to work with Jim Normile,” Mr. Zapp said.
Mr. Barber said he was at a loss for words, but said to Mr. Normile, “You will be missed. You have done an excellent job and I wish the best for you in coming days.”
Mr. Messer said it had been a “pleasure and honor” to work with the mayor, praised Mr. Normile’s hard work and added to the latter, “Thank you for being my friend.”
Commissioner Steve Finch thanked both for their service to the town, and congratulated mayor-elect Jason Holland and reelected commissioners Mark Taylor and Ms. Dooley.
They will be sworn into office during the board’s Tuesday, Dec. 14 meeting.
Mr. Barber presented Mr. Normile a proclamation thanking him for his years of working for the town and its residents and visitors.
“It’s been a joy to do the job,” Mr. Normile said.
The town will hold a public going-away ceremony for Mr. Barber in the meeting room from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7
Commissioners also officially swore into office Police Chief Mike Panzarella, who was promoted to the role last month.
Contact Brad Rich at 252-864-1532; email brad@thenewstimes.com; or follow on Twitter @brichccnt.
Your comment has been submitted.
Reported
There was a problem reporting this.
Log In
As a privately owned web site, we reserve the right to edit or remove comments that contain spam, advertising, vulgarity, threats of violence, racism, anti-Semitism, or personal/abusive/condescending attacks on other users or goading them. The same applies to trolling, the use of multiple aliases, or just generally being a jerk. Enforcement of this policy is at the sole discretion of the site administrators and repeat offenders may be blocked or permanently banned without warning.
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.