By Hugh Martin
CANDOR — During the regular meeting Monday, former commissioner Tim Smith was appointed to fill the seat on the Candor Board of Commissioners left vacant by Wayne Holyfield who resigned May 3.
Holyfield had been traveling a rocky road since he was sworn as a commissioner on Dec. 12, 2011. Minutes after being sworn he carried out a summary firing of four of the town’s five police officers with the votes of commissioners Tim Privett and Rob Martin supporting his motion to dismiss the four.
Since that time, citizens have crowded every meeting demanding an explanation, which has never been given.
The N.C. Highway Patrol, Holyfield’s employer, placed him on administrative duty in January to conduct an internal investigation on policy issues. In April he was charged with a felony by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation for illegally accessing a government computer.
On May 3, Holyfield was fired by the patrol and shortly thereafter he faxed a letter of resignation as a commissioner to the Candor Town Hall.
On Monday, Commissioner Phillip Hearne made the motion to accept the resignation and was seconded by Commissioner Layton Booker. The motion passed unanimously with no discussion. to cheers and applause from the full room of spectators.
Following other agenda business, Hearne made a motion to appoint Smith to fill Holyfield’s vacant seat. Booker again made the second. Privett, during discussion of the motion, asked that the decision wait for 30 days. Protests from the spectators convinced him to change his mind. All four commissioners voted for the appointment.
Mayor Richard Britt told Smith, who was present for the meeting, that he would be sworn in at the June meeting. Again the public protested, insisting that Smith be sworn immediately.
Following a five-minute recess to allow Clerk Tammy Kellis the opportunity to prepare for the swearing, Smith took the oath to the cheers of the crowd.
Smith was defeated by three votes in the November election that seated Holyfield and Martin. He had previously served 12 years on the board.
In other business, commissioners:
* Approved a resolution of intent to annex two parcels on Poplar Drive at the request of the property owners. The annexation will take effect June 30.
* Made a one-time contribution of $250 to the Candor Cowboys youth football team.
* Accepted the high bid of $1,310 from J.C. Comer to harvest pine needles from a tract of town-owned property.
* Resolved the issue of locks on the back door of the town hall by voting to leave them as they are. Holyfield had insisted that the locks be changed to allow egress from the meeting room. A fire inspector determined that the door did not qualify as an exit from that area.
* Agreed to schedule a budget hearing during the June 11 regular meeting.
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