Shortly after taking the oath of office as new Valdese Town Council Members, Glenn Harvey, Gary Ogle and Heather Ward wasted no time Monday night in hiring an interim Town Manager to replace Seth Eckard whose contract was terminated last week.
Following a motion by Harvey, and an extended discussion, the council voted 3-2 in front of a large crowd to immediately hire long-time Valdese resident Edward B. Perrou to serve as interim town manager at a salary of $1.
Perrou began his new role immediately after the vote. He will serve at least until the first meeting in January when the council plans to select an experienced interim.
The current council as well as those sworn in tonight have interviewed three experienced candidates during the last week but voted to immediately put Perrou in place.
Harvey, Ogle and Heather voted in favor. Council members Rexanna Lowman and Paul Mears voted against the motion.
Valdese Mayor Charlie Watts does not vote.
After a closed session, the council reconvened and voted to terminate the contract with CBSA Architects who had been charged with developing the documents and early planning for the potential public safety building. According to Bo Weichel, Finance Director, the town has paid CBSA $225,850 to date.
Additionally, Ogle was selected as Valdese Mayor ProTem, replacing former council member Frances Hildebran, who was defeated in the November elections.
Perrou, a former member of the Burke County Board of Education, is a bakery consultant, according to an undated Valdese application for Council Vacancy. He stated that his qualifications were, “Decades of managerial experience. This includes leadership in business and associated organizations.”
Ward, Harvey and Ogle successfully ran for election as a team, WHO, promising to reduce the property tax rate, reevaluate the need for a new public safety building, and make town government more transparent and more accessible.
WHO now holds a three-to-two majority on the council.
The race for the three seats attracted more voters, citizen interest, and media attention than any of the other Burke County municipal elections on Nov. 7.
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