When the Summerfield Town Council voted 4-to-1 earlier this month not to renew the employment contract of Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker, Whitaker didn’t have much of a reaction.
He just got up from his seat right next to the councilmembers and walked out of the adjourned meeting without saying a word.
At the meeting, there had been a mention by a councilmember of a possibility of a “renegotiation,” and another councilmember spoke highly of Whitaker’s contributions to the town and his vast knowledge of town administration. There was criticism of the contract – which was called unfair to the town – but no criticism of Whitaker himself.
However, if there was ever any chance of him keeping his job – and many in Summerfield say there never was at that point – well, Whitaker almost certainly sealed the deal when he finally did speak out by issuing a public statement last week that was critical of the council.
On Monday, Feb. 19 Whitaker sent an email to the town council saying he was expecting the council to stick to “its public word that good-faith negotiations are forthcoming.”
It was somewhat strange given the sound of finality in his previous public statement on the vote.
Whitaker’s statement read, “Council’s decision not to renew my contract wasn’t a matter of failed negotiations nor was it related to performance—there were no substantive discussions with me about either.”
He went on to state, “I learned of Council’s intent moments before their vote. Any narrative that the goal was a negotiation to improve the town’s contract position is a false one, and there was no pressing non-renewal notice deadline.”
It’s not unheard of that local government elected leaders blindside managers with votes – though, often the way it works is that the town or city councilmembers, or the county commissioners, give the manager an opportunity to resign so as to help the manager have a better chance of getting a new job elsewhere.
Whitaker concluded his statement as follows: “Elected officials have broad authority to fire managers; professional managers accept this risk, and letting me go without any severance was Summerfield’s approach. I’ll turn my attention elsewhere—my son, my wife’s cancer battle, and trying to discern God’s best for the next chapter when my contract ends. I’ll greatly miss the good citizens of Summerfield and the dedicated staff who I love.”
Or go to Greensboro where they shield their city manager…lol!
Enough Scott Whitaker! NC is an at will employment State. Most of us don’t have an employment contract and don’t get 4 months notice!
What did you think would happen if you pick sides and shun 1/2 of your bosses? You had protection of the old guard who are mad at change. The same old guard that trusted David Couch and Phil Berger who are now deannexing from town. The egos of You and current and former mayors and council are the reason 1000 acres might be taken from the center of Summerfield . We all saw you fail at fighting de-annexation and negotiations with Berger and Couch. Please step aside so we can stop talking about you and start stopping de-annexation.
Summerfield needs to get with the program. I hope that the area Mr. Couch is planning to develop gets de-annexed and goes to Greensboro.
Phil Berger and David Couch’s plan is going brilliantly! Get Mayor Tim Sessoms, Councilman John Doggett, BJ Barnes, former Councilman John O’Day (who doesn’t even live there) and crew to complain to everyone about Scott Whitaker! Which deflects from Senator Berger announcing on February 20th that he is going to push a legislative vote for deannexing the middle of Summerfield in April!
Some idiots in Summerfield won’t notice that while they are whining about one man, Berger and Couch are destroying a town of 12,000. Stellar priorities Summerfield.
Scott Whitaker said he had no idea that council would not renew his contract — but Tim Sessoms and John Doggett met with NWObserver week before and reported the closed session on the town agenda was about not renewing Whitaker contract! Since Whitaker signed the contract June 12, 2012 it was clear that his contract was or was not renewed every two years — June 12, 2024. There was no requirement for “negotiations.’ It is good bye –but Scott wants more money from the taxpayers– his $200,000 a year and town truck was not enough — Whitaker wants more.
He has not handled this criticism well and never has handled criticism well. He believes he is above everyone else, pretending to stay on the fence. While he hasn’t been strong vocally about development, he certainly has felt free to spend the Town’s money. Now he is selling the Gordon Store at a loss to the tax payers as well as adjoining property, at a loss to the taxpayers. He purchased them under the ruse that they would be great new Town Halls, yet they had no well or septic. His actions over the years have been scurrilous to the taxpayers (look it up). Now, he has not handled this public criticism well. He should have laid low and let time go by to see what happens. Instead, the next day, he had a press release critical of his bosses, Council. Bad move Mr. Manager, but that is nothing new. This time though, you did out in public. No more secrets.