Atlantic Beach manager gets contract

ATLANTIC BEACH -- The Atlantic Beach Town Council decided Tuesday to award a yearlong, $55,000 contract to Town Manager William Booker, sparking controversy during its meeting.

Councilman Donnell Thompson opposed the contract, saying the council had agreed in the past to not hire anyone under contract and to retain the ability to fire someone at will.

"We didn't want to get into the same problems we had before, where we would be tying up town funds if we decided to terminate," Thompson said. "That has changed, I assume."

Thompson was absent from the earlier executive session in which the matter was discussed. The contract was approved in open session with three votes from remaining council members Jake Evans, Charlene Taylor and Josephine Isom.

Former council candidate Patricia Bellamy, president of the Atlantic Beach Concerned Citizens group, called the awarding of Booker's contract irresponsible, given the pending litigation over the recent elections.

"It's a bad-faith contract with the election issue still in the courts," Bellamy told council. "You have put a burden on the incoming board."

A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20 in Conway to review the contested November municipal elections. Although challengers Windy Price and Carolyn Cole beat out incumbents Isom and Taylor, the vote was later overturned by the town's election commission.

The decision was made after the losing incumbents and write-in candidate Paul Curry filed complaints that Price and Cole were not residents of Atlantic Beach and did not follow proper procedures in declaring their candidacy and in campaigning. Cole and Price appealed to Horry County courts.

Bellamy also questioned how the council could decide to award Booker a $55,000 contract when the town is missing audits going back until about 2004 or 2005 and without knowing the town's financial footing.

"Where is all this money coming from?" she asked.

She also called Booker inexperienced as an administrator.

"I have over 40 years experience as a manager for Dupont, a worldwide company," Booker said, addressing Bellamy's comments. He also said he has a degree in business.

"I think he's doing a great job, and we're starting to see some successes," Evans said. "I'm not sure we could find somebody else who is willing to take that salary."

Booker said his goals over the next year include trying to get the town's audits caught up. The town is missing the 2005 audit, which is completed, but the council owes about $3,500 to the auditing firm. The Town Council on Tuesday also gave Booker permission to move forward to finalize a $35,000 contract to get the audits completed from 2006 to 2008.

Another matter Tuesday that caused some unrest with the residents at the meeting was a rezoning of some property at the intersection of 32nd Avenue North and U.S. 17. A business is looking into bringing an amusement attraction and would like to get the property zoned.

Residents and Thompson raised concerns about "spot zoning" and legal ramifications. The council decided to defer the issue until the next council meeting Jan. 4.

In other matters, the council:

gave Booker the go-ahead to proceed with planning Bikefest.

considered an ordinance to raise building inspection fees from $50 to $75.

proposed creating flea market vendor fees at $10 a day, $15 a weekend and $30 a month.

proposed hosting one Town Council meeting a month instead of two, in order to save expenses.