LUMBERTON — County Manager Ricky Harris declined to comment on Monday’s request by the president of the local branch of the NAACP that the county and his civil rights organization “partner” in the search for a black to serve as an assistant county manager.
“That’s personnel,” Harris said. “I’m not saying anything about that.”
Harris will review the applications for the open assistant manager’s position and recommend to the commissioners who should get the job. The position has been advertised since October.
During Monday’s meeting, Robert Davis, the newly installed president of Robeson County’s branch of the NAACP, asked the board to hire a black assistant county manager — and that the NAACP be enlisted in the search process.
“The NAACP aims its mission as to ensure the political, economic, educational and social equality of all people and to eliminate racial hatred … within the boundaries of our county,” Davis told the board.
Davis emphasized that the next assistant manager should meet all of the requirements set by the county, which, he said, are similar to those set by the NAACP. He also told the board that any black chosen for the assistant manager’s position should be one that is acceptable to the black community.
“I believe the two parties can work together to ensure that the requirements of the position are met,” Davis said. “…Working together we can bring great harmony among all the people (of all races).”
In the past the county has had two assistant managers, but there has only been one since Harris became the county’s interim manager when former Manager Ken Windley retired in November 2010. Harris had been an assistant county manager before being elevated to his current position.
The position to be filled is the one that has been held on an interim basis by Charles Britt, the county’s fire marshal and director of Emergency Services, since former Assistant County Manager Rod Jenkins, who is black, left in June 2011 to become deputy director of Human Services for the Cumberland County Health Department. Britt, who is white, has told The Robesonian that he has applied for the job.
Harris has stated previously that he does not know if the commissioners will eventually move to hire a second assistant county manager.
In other business, the commissioners approved a resolution setting the specific boundaries for property that will serve as the site of a dental school that the East Carolina University Dental School of Medicine plans to open in Lumberton. To move the project forward, the city of Lumberton will also have to approve the site as a minor subdivision, according to County Attorney Hal Kinlaw.
The 2.5 acres of land is located in front of Pinecrest Country Club, near the county Department of Social Services on N.C. 711, and adjacent to the Pinecrest Village subdivision. The county has donated the land, valued at about $30,000, to the school.
The university plans to set up a Community Learning Center on the site, one of 10 such facilities it wants to open in rural areas across the state. The center will provide a community-based site for fourth-year dental students and post-graduate students who will provide free and reduced-cost dental care to area residents.
In other business, the commissioners: Heard a report from Ronald Oxendine, the director of the county’s Housing Authority, who reported that there are few vacancies at the county’s four sites, which include a total of 300 units. Interior renovations are currently going on at the West Gate complex, he said, with 40 of the 100 units now completed.
— Tabled appointments to the county’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
— Recessed Monday’s meeting until the beginning of their annual three-day retreat on Jan. 30 at the county’s Emergency Operations Center.
Naacp, you are playing the race game in the wrong county. You're not treated any different than anyone else around here. Don't try and muscle the residents around here.
Your race makes up one third of the population in this county, you are not minority here, you have the same number as the other two. Now what you've done with your numbers is up to you..........
Read more: The Robesonian - NAACP wants role in search
Well, so much for Dr. King's dream for a better world. Trashed and tossed in the dustbin of history with such "requests".
Let's just cut through the chase! Why not just say what you are really wanting; ask the County Manager to step aside and let you (NAACP) pick the person for this position since you feel that the African American community is ENTITLED to this position. Don't beat around the bush.
Whatever you do Mr. Davis, please do not ask the state president, William Barber, to come and get involved! Just let the County Manager do his job sir!!!!
I have a few questions I'd like addessed such as crime, out of wedlock kids, murders, dependency on government, drug use, education, poverty, etc.
All this at epidemic rates even though "millions and billions" of dollars per year are funneled to minorities to stem this problem. It's time for the money from taxpayers to end, if this is all we can show for "our investments".......
Come on down Mr. Barber, we'll put 3 tables together at Denny's and have a chat...
Please remember chief, the lumbee race will not be acknowledged in Heaven either. There'll be no special freebies from the great turtle in the sky. Your lumbee card will have no value there, sorta like the way it's valued here, worthless.
Bosomhandkerchief was only making a point with his reference to GOD. Then here you come with this Rossology bs. You took it somewhere totally different. You made reference to the Lumbee Tribe. Now, Now. Obviously someone at LRDA or Lumbee Tribe has upset you. Okay, we all get. You don't want any part of it. If it doesn't affect you, then shut up! This article does affect you however. So why don't you put your name in the mix for assistant county manager. You will do great! You have this remarkable gift of changing colors. Similar to that of the Chameleon Lizard (Thus the name I have given you, "Chameleon Ross." "Respected from Lumber Bridge to Marietta.") Then every person who is concerned about having their race represented will have no worries. You can have them all covered. Brilliant!!
Is it just me or does this kind of demand posing as a request not completely contradict the stated mission as Mr. Davis puts it "to ensure the political, economic, educational and social equality of all people..."?
I'm not racist at all but would have much more respect and therefore believe more of what he says if Mr. Davis and those like him would just BE HONEST about what they want which is certainly not equality.
The very essence of the word equality suggests to me that the most qualified candidate for a position should be chosen because to choose any other way would be to give Robeson less than she deserves,no?
Consider that if one needs a Dr. it would not be intelligent to seek out one of a particular race instead of one most qualified to cure what ails you? I for one wouldn't care a tinker's d___ about the color of his skin, only that he is the very best of his profession that I can afford.
I would hope that the Board of Comm. will also use this criteria to get us the very best available because to do otherwise would be be to break the public trust we place in them.
No offense is intended to the NAACP or to Mr. Davis.
Where we come from you have to EARN respect, it's not given to you based on skin color, and I have no respect for you at all.... sir.
Stop lumping all whites in with the kkk as if all whites support it. KKK uses white sheets as part of their symbol, you sleep on white sheets, does this mean you support the kkk? Get it?
I'm so glad to know this afternoon that YOU TOO have figured out "Ohio John" Canty and Hubert "The Fool" Sealey. Thank you for you comment!!!!!!
And for the record: The County finances have improved over the past two years... apparently the current staff should be doing something right. So permantly hiring Britt should not be a problem. Just go through the process without the NAACP or any other group (back door politics)
GUESS WHAT...none of actions will be effective without the GOD'S blessing. (yeah... I know some Atheist will have a negative comment...but I don't care)
Read more: The Robesonian - NAACP wants role in search
Really?
Exactly where is the equality for any other race that the naabp is claiming to ensure? I can not recall the naabp, at any point, asking for a native american, asian-american, hispanic or any other "colored" person, other than black, to receive a position based on skin color. (In my most sarcastic voice) I can see where the naabp's actions will "bring great harmony among all the people (of all races).” Sad... Just Saying...