Council hires Finan as new city attorney
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on June 22, 2004 2:03 PM
The Goldsboro City Council voted Monday night to appoint Timothy Finan as the new city attorney.
Finan's pay and most other benefits are the same as his law partner, Harrell Everett. He will not receive contributions to a retirement account.
Afterward, city officials paid tribute to Everett, who's retiring after more than 30 years as the city's main counsel.
Also Monday, the City Council approved two voluntary annexations and supported plans for new apartment buildings.
Finan will begin work as the new city attorney on July 1. He has already done work for the city as a member of Everett's firm, primarily advising and representing the police department, officials said. He also assisted the Board of Adjustment for several years.
The city will continue to pay Finan and other lawyers at Everett, Womble, Finan, Lawrence and Brown $90 per hour. The hourly rate for paralegal and staff support services will remain at $45 per hour.
The city will continue to pay for some professional memberships, travel and educational opportunities, but the benefits do not include retirement pay. Payment into Everett's retirement fund was the source of controversy this spring.
City Councilman Chuck Allen regrets that Everett "has somewhat come under a cloud" because of the retirement pay issue. That shouldn't mar Everett's more than 30 years of service, Allen said.
"At the end of the day, a man should be judged by how effective he's been and whether his community is a better place to live. I believe Harrell Everett has made a difference," Allen said.
As the city's former personnel director and now mayor, Al King worked with Everett for 20 years of his tenure, King said. "In every incidence, he's been a man of high skills who was always concerned about the city and doing things the right way."
All the council members had similar things to say about Everett.
For his part, Everett thanked his partners and staff at his firm for their support. "It's truly been a team effort," he said.
He also has enjoyed his working relationships with city employees, mayors, council members and managers, particularly current manager Richard Slozak, he said.
"This job has not always been easy," he said, adding that it had typically been enjoyable.
Annexations
The city will soon grow by nearly 10 acres.
The council agreed to annex almost eight acres on the northeast side of Tenth Place between Norwood Avenue and Englewood Drive. United Entertainment Co. is building a multiplex movie theater on the site.
The city is also accepting a satellite annexation -- less than two acres on the southeast corner of U.S. 70 West and Martin Road. Friendswood LLC owns the land, which is currently vacant.
No one spoke at the hearings on the annexation requests.
No one commented either on Kathy Woodard's request for a special-use permit for the north side of East Ash Street between Piedmont Airline Road and Oak Forest Road. She wants to expand her real-estate office. The council will decide in July whether she can.
Other business
The council approved plans for Laurel Pointe II. The new apartment complex will adjoin the original Laurel Pointe, which is on the south side of New Hope Road between Ervin Drive and Bear Creek Road. The addition will include 32 apartments.
The council also agreed to allow Wayne Memorial Hospital to place an outbuilding on its grounds. The 1,900-square-foot modular office building will be the new home for the Wayne Action Team for Community Health (WATCH). It will be behind the former child-care center.
The board rejected a bid for downtown properties that were mistakenly listed as surplus property. Chris Boyette Enterprises had offered $23,000 for the 10 parcels that front on Pine, Center and Elm streets.
The city awarded a $75,000 contract to Wayne Roofing and Sheet Metal Co. to replace the rubber roofing at the Herman Park Center.
Mayor Al King read resolutions expressing appreciation for the service of Everett and former Councilman William Goodman. Both resolutions were passed unanimously.