Section 12

Section 12

Calvin R. Peck

Fernandina Beach, FL City Manager Candidate Report

Section 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

COVER LETTER 1

RESUME 3

CANDIDATE INTRODUCTION 9

BACKGROUND CHECKS 17

CB&A REFERENCE NOTES 23

INTERNET SEARCH 35

Section 12

Cover Letter

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Calvin R. Peck, Jr. 303 Fern Creek Lane Carolina Beach, NC 28428 (910) 617-4213 (cell) [email protected]

July 26, 2015

Mr. Rick Conner:

Please accept my application for the position of City Manager with the City of Fernandina Beach. My research into the challenges faced by Fernandina Beach has me convinced that you will find me imminently qualified to serve as your next manager. I hold an MPA and am an ICMA Credentialed Manager. I believe you will find me uniquely qualified with a strong financial acumen, economic development, effective leadership skills and a demonstrated sensitivity to the challenges of a coastal destination community where the needs of permanent, year-round residents must be balanced with the desires of a seasonal population.

I have extensive municipal financial experience- my budgets have won awards of distinction by the GFOA, and I am proficient working with Enterprise Funds. On Bald Head Island we are finalizing a multi-year project to expand our wastewater treatment and upgrade to re-use quality effluent. We will use this effluent to irrigate the golf course and become a more sustainable community. Similarly, I was challenged to create a more efficient way to provide emergency services on the Island. We took a chance on a new model – a combined Public Safety force – which merged our fire/medic and police departments for a significant savings to the community. Today, we have one of only three Public Safety agencies in the state of North Carolina. I am honored that I was able to share my experiences at the ICMA Center for Public Safety Management Symposium on the Future of Local Government Police Service.

I have served several communities for a combined 19 years of municipal management experience. My current position on Bald Head Island has allowed me to develop my skills in management of large, politically sensitive projects, while also expanding my background in coastal community issues. I have built a career on collaborating with neighboring communities and the County government. We are studying the possibility of bringing a Municipal Fiber to Bald Head Island and therefore have a working knowledge of the many challenges this entails. I oversaw the redevelopment of the Carolina Beach downtown, both by bringing in outside investment as well as getting the property owners to coalesce around a shared vision. Unfortunately, we succumbed to big outside development pressure and the community is worse off for it. Having seen that take place first hand, I believe I am better able to keep it from happening in Fernandina Beach.

I am certain that my proven track record in management, commitment to customer service and excellent project management skills will be of great value to Fernandina Beach. I have a broad repertoire of skills across all areas – communication, executive leadership, strategic planning, finance, emergency management, Historic Preservation, economic development and community relations. I believe the merger of my skill set with the Fernandina Beach community will be a great marriage.

Sincerely,

Calvin R. Peck, Jr.

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Resume

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Calvin R. Peck, Jr. 303 Fern Creek Lane (910) 617-4213 (cell) Carolina Beach, NC 28428 [email protected]

SUMMARY

Nearly 20 years of municipal management experience. A multi-dimensional leader experienced in identifying innovative technical and financial strategies to meet organizational challenges. Promotes a culture focused on the customer by developing a learning organization with an empowered workforce committed to delivering cost effective services.

SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE

Village Manager, Village of Bald Head Island, NC (2006 - Present)

The Village of Bald Head Island is a high-end residential/resort community with a seasonal population of approximately 8,000. Its total property valuation is $1.3 billion.

Duties and Responsibilities:  Executive management of seven operating divisions (Finance, Planning, Public Works, Public Safety Stormwater, Shoreline Stabilization, and Water and Wastewater,) with 100 permanent, seasonal employees and volunteers and an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million.  Oversee the operation of a Reverse Osmosis water treatment plant that treats and blends water from 17 wells and a sub-aqueous waterline supplying county water.  Oversee the operation of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that uses infiltration ponds to dispose of the treated effluent.

Accomplishments:  Spearheaded the plan to combine the Police, Fire, and Paramedic programs into a fully integrated Public Safety Department with 15% cost savings and increased productivity. I am honored that last fall I shared my experiences at the ICMA Center for Public Safety Management Symposium on the Future of Local Government Police Service.  Successfully balanced the wants, needs, and desires of full-time residents, seasonal visitors, and tourists through effective community outreach skills working with HOAs, private recreation facilities, and other stakeholders to build and keep consensus.  Oversaw a second $18 million Bond Referendum last past spring that resulted in a 90% approval by voters.  Successfully implemented low-cost employee programs that improved morale and reduced turnover by 10%.  Provided leadership for the conversion to radio read water meters.  Led the improvement of the wastewater treatment plant including transition to reuse, expansion of the facilities, and developing a long-term strategy to bring all current septic tank customers onto the municipal system.

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Resume of Calvin Peck Page 2

 Managed a $17 million Beach Nourishment plan, from a Bond Referendum that resulted in a 92% approval rate, to completion of the capital project on-time and under budget.  Successfully managed a multi-million dollar FEMA grant from Hurricane Irene recovery efforts. Currently managing the implementation of a $100,000 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant.  Transitioned all municipal operations to a Cloud environment and moved to a paperless Agenda Preparation with Council IPads.  Awarded Manager of the Year for 2011 by Cape Fear Council of Governments

Town Manager, Town of Carolina Beach, NC 1998-2005

The Town of Carolina Beach is a blue-collar beach town with a seasonal population of over 40,000. It has a significant downtown boardwalk and numerous hotels and restaurants.

Duties and Responsibilities:  Executive management of 10 operating divisions (Finance, Planning, Police, Fire, Water and Wastewater, Stormwater, Sanitation, Streets, Public Works and Recreation) with 150 permanent and seasonal employees and an annual budget of approximately $15 million.  Primary economic development officer for the Town.  Oversaw the operation of both Water and a Regional WWTP.

Accomplishments:  Successful in selling the downtown as an attractive redevelopment area. Primary negotiator and overseer of the successful redevelopment of the downtown central business district and the Boardwalk. Led the efforts to attract an out of state developer to build a major oceanfront hotel that became the anchor for the newly redeveloped downtown. Used land swaps and infrastructure improvements to make the project happen.  The town was often over-run with problems created in an adjacent unincorporated park area. Using my leadership and negotiation skills, I was able to put in place an interlocal agreement with the County for better management of the area. In addition, we created a revenue structure whereby the users of the park funded additional law enforcement, lifeguards, trash pickup and portalets. So what had been a lawless party beach was transformed to a family-friendly recreation area.  Managed the town through four Category 3, and numerous smaller storms, over 7 years. Became intimately familiar with FEMA processes for community response for storm victims, recovery and hazard mitigation. Secure millions of dollars in post storm recovery and hazard mitigation grants from FEMA. Built new Town Hall and Fire Departments primarily through FEMA Hazard Mitigation grants.  Managed a $20 million sewer infrastructure improvement program  Expanded water supply and storage assets to accommodate build out throughout the town.  Converted 2500 water customers to radio read meters that saved money through capture of lost water revenue and other efficiencies.

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Resume of Calvin Peck Page 3

 Restructured the Town's budget so that it incorporated departmental mission statements and goals in order to give the reader a concise, yet comprehensive, snapshot of town operations. GFOA recognized budgets with their Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.  Brought together residents, visitors and Boardwalk business owners to create a shared vision for the long range future of the town.

Town Administrator, Town of Murfreesboro, NC 1995-1998

The Town of Murfreesboro is a small southern college town with a population of 2,300 and a planning district of 5,000.

Duties and Responsibilities:  Responsible for the day-to-day operations for 7 Operational Departments (Planning, Water and Wastewater, Police, Fire, Public Works, Streets and Recreation) through an annual budget of $2M with 33 employees .

Accomplishments:  Expanded the WWTP Spray Irrigation fields through a combination of local financing and tax incentives to a large forestry company,  Implemented town-wide recycling.  Smoothly ran the town with motivated employees on a shoestring.  Oversaw the conversion of a mainstreet storefront in the Historic District into a new library branch.

U. S. Army, Enlisted 1975-1983; Officer 1983-1995

Successful 20 year career culminating in Command of a tank company in Germany. Managed delivery of logistical support for over 5,500 personnel and 100 vehicles. Demonstrated technical, planning and coordination skills through excellence in administration.

EDUCATION

Master of Arts, Public Policy and Public Administration, Purdue University, 1994 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Campbell University, 1987 Post-Graduate, University of North Carolina, Institute of Government. 1995-Present Resolving Public Disputes, Municipal Administration, Budgeting and Financial Planning, as well as numerous shorter courses and seminars.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Credentialed Manager, International City Management Association Former Second Vice President, North Carolina City/County Management Association

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Resume of Calvin Peck Page 4

Past Chairman, UNC Wilmington MPA Community Advisory Committee Advisor, UNC Wilmington ICMA Student Chapter, Member, ICMA Advisory Board on Graduate Education ICMA Welcome Ambassador Cape Fear COG Manager of the Year 2011 Member, National Eagle Scouts Association

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Candidate Introduction

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EDUCATION

Master of Arts (1994) Public Policy & Administration, Purdue University Bachelor of Science (1987). Political Science, Campbell University Post-Graduate (1995-2014). Institute of Government, University of North Carolina. Post Graduate work in Resolving Public Disputes, Municipal Administration, Budgeting & Financial Planning.

EXPERIENCE

Manager, Village of Bald Head Island, NC 2006 – present Manager, Town of Carolina Beach, NC 1998 – 2005 Administrator, Town of Murfreesboro, NC 1995 – 1998 Management Intern, City of Hampton, VA 1995 US Army (Enlisted 1975-1983; Officer 1983-1995) 1975 – 1995

BACKGROUND

Bald Head Island is a vacation home destination located off the North Carolina coast. The Island is accessible only via a 20-minute ferry ride and that has helped preserve its unique character. It also has historical significance as the location of North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse (commissioned by Thomas Jefferson) and ecological significance as a nesting home for sea turtles. Permanent population is primarily made up of retirees. During tourist season, Bald Head Island’s population swells to 8,000. The Island economy is driven by tourism and as a result, it offers a exclusive recreational club and golf course, private beach club and spa, several restaurants, shops and stores

The Village of Bald Head Island is a full-service government providing planning, water and wastewater, parks and recreation, public works, shoreline protection, and public safety (Police, Fire, and Paramedic Service). The annual general fund budget is approximately $10 million and the utilities budget is $3.5 million. We currently have $9 million in projects under construction and another $10 million planned to begin next year. The Village has 70 full time and seasonal employees led by eight department heads and an Assistant Village Manager.

In my prior position as the Town Manager of Carolina Beach, I oversaw a full service local government with a staff of 150 employees, and an annual budget of $20 million that served a peak seasonal population of 40,000.

The three most significant issues facing the Village of Bald Head Island are:  High Speed Broadband: The Island's development has been slowed due to inadequate and, in certain circumstances, complete lack of broadband capacity. The Village Council

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has taken aggressive approach to correcting this insufficiency. We have the financing in place and have issued an RFP to find a private partner to contract with to construct and operate a joint Fiber Optic project on island. This project is felt to be key to the ongoing viability of the island as a resort and retirement community.  Wastewater Treatment: We are in the process of both expanding capacity and improving the quality of effluent from our wastewater treatment plant. The biggest immediate challenge is to implement upgrades that will produce reuse quality effluent. We are making good progress and our golf course will be using the reuse water for irrigation.  Aging Infrastructure: The Village has need for a new Public Safety facility and we are in the final planning for financing and construction for this new complex which will house our Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS functions. In addition, the Village Hall is aging and inadequate for our current needs. We have had to defer this project in favor of more pressing priorities.

GENERAL, MANAGEMENT STYLE AND EXPERIENCE

I have spent 20 years as a municipal manager and all of it has been in smaller communities. I have served most of my time in Council/Manager communities and am very comfortable operating in this environment. I love all the things that Fernandina Beach has to offer, especially all of the outdoor opportunities, The redevelopment of the old city mall is a challenge that I relish as redevelopment and project management are particular strengths of mine. Having a small city, with all the opportunities it has to offer, next to a much larger city is a wonderful environment. Fernandina Beach is a place where my family and I can settle down and make our permanent home.

The best description of my management style is to be approachable, participatory and collaborative but also to set high standards and require in accountability. I work hard to create an environment where employees must work hard to reach attainable goals and take pride in what they achieve. The result is a happy, cohesive work environment where morale is high and turnover is low. One outcome was a recent holiday party. There my department heads worked together and did a “roast” of me as part of the entertainment. The presentation was fun and interesting. I was humbled that they felt safe enough to make fun of the “boss.” In addition, I found it interesting that they highlighted the fact that I delegate well and give them plenty of latitude to run their own departments. I also noticed that they appreciated my efforts to support them, both personally and professionally.

My elected officials, in my most recent annual review, recognized my key strengths as strategic planning, project management and budgeting. Generally I have a strong relationship with our Mayor and Council members. On some issues, we disagree about the level of involvement Council should take, but we enjoy a high level of agreement on overall strategy.

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My strengths lie in a number of areas:

The first is organizational leadership. My staff and I have transformed communities through innovative ideas, such as moving from separate Fire/Police departments to integrated Public Safety and delivered on major capital projects such construction/expansion of wastewater treatment plants.

The second is effective community outreach skills, particularly working with homeowner associations, private recreational facilities and other stakeholders to build and keep consensus. One result was a $17 million voted bond debt for Bald Head Island passed early in my tenure. We put together an informational campaign and the voters approved the measure with 92% in favor. In fact, our voters just approved another $18 million voted bond debt for more beach infrastructure.

Another of my strengths is my financial acumen. For example, in Bald Head Island, we restructured the town’s budget document so that it functions as a work plan in guiding departmental operations. The format incorporates departmental mission statements and goals in order to give citizens and the governing body a concise, yet comprehensive, snapshot of the town’s operations. Governmental Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recognized has routinely recognized our budgets with their Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

Finally, having led coastal communities through Hurricanes Bonnie (1998), Dennis and Floyd (1999), Isabel (2003) and Irene (2011), I have a considerable amount of expertise in emergency management, hazard mitigation, the community response for flood victims and the FEMA process for recovery. As a result, my communities have secured millions of dollars in post storm FEMA recovery grants.

In terms of weaknesses, last year, I completed a 360 degree assessment through the ICMA. This process solicited viewpoints from a variety of people – elected officials, managers and staff. The process suggested I could more clearly communicate the basis for some of our decisions to community leaders and also encourage more participation by citizens in our process of governance. As a result, we are developing some public information sessions about a project we are planning for 2015 but that will likely have some taxpayer implications.

When it comes to measuring performance, we have implemented NEOGOV’s performance appraisal system. That has simplified the process and improved communication between supervisors and employees. For me, however, the crucial metric is continuous improvement. I believe strongly in setting goals and measuring performance relative to those goals, but just looking at goals sometimes misses the mark. Rather performance to goals must always be assessed within the larger context of ongoing organizational improvement.

My biggest success has been developing new leaders. When I got to Bald Head Island, the Assistant Village Manager / Planning Director had stagnated in his job and was merely going

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through the motions. He needed to be challenged to do more. First, I gave him the authority to do more than 'just be a planner' as well as the ultimate responsibility for the successful completion of various projects. Once he had gotten the 'leadership bug', I urged him to apply for his Masters of Public Administration at UNC Wilmington. As a member of the MPA Community Advisory Board I was able to work with his professors and him to shape his education so that he now has exactly the right skills he needs to be successful. Wanting him to be as prepared as possible for his next step I pushed him to complete an additional course- the UNC Municipal Management course. I feel that he is now fully prepared to be a City Manager and I am very proud that I have been able to train my successor.

My biggest failure (mistake) was my inability to develop and motivate a Police Chief in another community. He had been on the force for many years, coming up through the ranks, and was eligible to retire. The department appeared leaderless and lacked direction. I sought to challenge him and develop the skills so that he could take charge of his department. I worked with him by sending him to the NC State University Senior Police Management Program. Ultimately I was unsuccessful in my attempts to lead and motivate him as he was merely seeking to maximize his retirement check and not interested in getting better. I simply could not find the motivation trigger that would get him excited about teaching the younger officers and giving them the benefit of his vast experience.

Unfortunately, I have had the experience of having to let people go. Several years ago it was clear it was necessary to find a new leader for our Public Safety Department. The decision involved months of efforts to work with the employee, including mediation and an external review. I went to considerable lengths to provide the employee with the feedback and opportunity to make changes in his conduct. Although I had every reason to terminate him, we chose to offer him the opportunity to resign. I struggled throughout this process and sought consultation with many people. As a result, I have no regrets because I know that we did everything to provide him the opportunity to change.

The challenges I see facing Fernandina Beach are:  Aging Infrastructure and Stormwater improvements. This is not a unique situation that Fernandina Beach finds itself in. We faced similar issues in each municipality I have been in. With commitment by the Commission to coalesce around a plan we can get this done.  Redevelopment of the City’s waterfront: This project has the ability to transform the very essence of the city. I was part of a similar, very successful redevelopment effort in Carolina Beach that, by including all stakeholders, was able to produce a win-win-win for all involved. I will bring this experience to Fernandina Beach to help the Commission discover its future.  Managing the City's wants and needs within its available resources. Bald Head Island has a demanding population with a extremely high expectations, and a mix of progressive and conservative outlooks. By operating as a team the Council, citizens and staff have always been able to prioritize to produce the best outcome. This approach can be replicated in Fernandina Beach.

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During the first six months as Fernandina Beach’s City Manager, my efforts will involve:  Meeting with Commission to understand their priorities and the political landscape, to include holding a Commission Retreat;  Meeting with and assessing staff and the overall organizational structure;  Understanding the current budget and projections for next three years;  Consulting with City attorney to understand any current legal issues and risks; and  Learn about the key stakeholders in the community and how we can better meet their needs.

All in all, I see myself spending a lot of time walking around and talking to all elected officials, meeting staff where they work, as well as many citizens as possible.

When working with the media, transparency is the key. It is also important to try to make their job easier. We try to do that by proactively sharing positive messages with them. I also believe that, as others have said “Sunshine is a great disinfectant”. If there is bad news that will get out there anyway, put it out quickly with the City’s side of the story. Nothing is worse than a story dribbling out day after day.

We have used social media as our primary tool in communicating with our property owners. They demand it and we have given it to them. It does require almost constant updates to remain fresh and someone must be dedicated to actively keeping the public informed. With a large seasonal population it is incumbent on us to reach out to our part time residents to ensure they have a sense of ownership of issues facing the City as well as the solutions.

I am not aware of there being anything captured by the media that would be embarrassing or compromising in any fashion, and do not believe community activists will contact anyone in Fernandina Beach with the “dirt” on me. There isn’t any.

In my spare time, my wife and I are active in our church. I have a 1968 Chevelle and enjoy participating in Car Club events. I love to golf and once played to a 11 handicap (I hope to again).

SIX ADJECTIVES OR PHRASES YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF

 Integrity,  Innovative,  Risk taker,  Transformative leader,  Strategic planner, and  Peacemaker.

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REASON FOR WANTING TO LEAVE MY CURRENT JOB

First and most importantly, I am looking for new challenges. I have worked on Bald Head Island for 8 years and I love my job. But it is now time to move to a new community where I can apply my talents and skills. I worry that if I stay another five or ten years, I may become stale and that will not be good for me or the community.

CURRENT SALARY

My base salary is approximately $121,000.

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CB&A Background Checks

Page 17 of 93 Background Check Summary for CALVIN R. PECK JR.

Criminal Records Checks:

Nationwide Criminal Records Search No Records Found

County New Hanover County, NC No Records Found Brunswick County, NC No Records Found Hertford County, NC No Records Found

State North Carolina No Records Found

Civil Records Checks:

County New Hanover County, NC No Records Found Brunswick County, NC No Records Found Hertford County, NC No Records Found

Federal North Carolina October 2014, Civil Rights law suit filed against the Village of Bald Head Island including Mr. Peck in his capacity as Village Administrator Disposition = February 2015, Dismissed for Failure to State Claim

October 2001 – Racketeering Complaint filed against the Town of Carolina Beach including Mr. Peck in his capacity as Town Administrator Disposition = April 2003, Dismissed without Prejudice

January 1999, Civil Rights law suit filed against the Town of Carolina Beach including Mr. Peck in his capacity as Town Administrator Disposition = May 2000, Dismissed

See Personal Disclosure on page 21 for explanation for records found.

Motor Vehicle North Carolina No Records Found

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Credit Excellent

Bankruptcy No Records Found

Education Confirmed

Employment Confirmed

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Section 12 Background Check Summary for CALVIN R. PECK JR. Personal Disclosure

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Section 12 Background Check Summary for CALVIN R. PECK JR. Personal Disclosure Explanation

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Section 12 Background Check Summary for CALVIN R. PECK JR. Personal Disclosure Explanation

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Section 12

CB&A Reference Notes

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Section 12 Reference Notes Calvin Peck

Brian Roberts – Former Fire Chief, Carolina Beach, NC 910-512-2475

Mr. Roberts worked with Mr. Peck from 1998 – 2007 and have remained personal friends since.

Mr. Peck’s job performance was always excellent. He was very goal oriented while also being very people oriented. He did not micro manage staff and was an excellent boss. Employees knew what was expected and fulfilled their responsibilities. He is very devoted to the city that employs him, often working late to complete tasks.

Mr. Peck was open to suggestions from others and was always willing to discuss various ideas. He might not always agree but he was always willing to listen. If someone knew a better way to do something, he wanted to hear the idea.

When he was hired the city had severe budget issues but Mr. Peck found the funding to improve the fire station, upgrade much of the equipment and even purchase two new service vehicles. He also made improvements to the water system. He maintains an organization at a high performance level but he also thinks outside the box to improve operations. He is a performance driven individual.

Mr. Peck was visible in the community and developed a rapport with residents. He was very good at mitigating problems. His door was always open. He kept staff informed through staff meetings and as needed. Communication is very important to him. He asked department heads to contact him about major events even if they occurred in the middle of the night.

In terms of management style, Mr. Peck leads the organization to reach the goals of the elected body. One of the largest problems he addressed was preparing for and cleaning up after hurricanes. He worked very closely with employees and formed a good disaster plan.

Mr. Peck provided good customer service to residents. He listens and was as fair as possible, while still representing the organization to achieve their goals. He has very strong financial skills, especially in budget management. His work was always completed in a timely fashion.

Mr. Peck had to terminate the employment of a department head who was well liked, a personnel issue more than a controversy. Nothing in his background would embarrass an employer should the press dig into his past.

Mr. Roberts worked in the Carolina Beach Fire Department for 36 years. The politics were incredibly volatile. Mr. Peck and his management team were very proactive and encouraged new development in the community. Some residents preferred to keep wooden hotel buildings that did not have fire alarms and sprinklers, in order to maintain the small town atmosphere. Enough of these individuals were elected to the Council to create a majority. They first terminated the employment of Mr. Peck and then did the same with everyone he hired or promoted, including Mr. Roberts.

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Section 12 Reference Notes Calvin Peck

Mr. Roberts would absolutely hire Mr. Peck and would work for him again. He is an excellent City Manager. He took a town in the red and improved its finances. He brought new developments to the community. He accomplished more during his tenure than other managers were able to.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Leadership,  Very organized,  Very good at managing the budget process,  Good team player,  Compassionate, and  Great communicator.

Strengths: Goal oriented, always considers the big picture, and surrounds himself with a good team of people who work together for the common good.

Weaknesses: When they first met Mr. Peck had retired from the military was initially a little military strong. Over the years he developed into a superb manager of employees and municipalities.

Gary Doetsch – Former Carolina Beach Councilman, Carolina Beach, NC 910-458-6729

Mr. Doetsch has known Mr. Peck since about 1997 when Mr. Peck was the Administrator of Murfreesboro. Mr. Doetsch was a member of the Town Council. They interviewed Mr. Peck and made a unanimous decision to hire him. Mr. Peck’s job performance was outstanding. Whenever Council gave him adequate instructions it never had to wait for him to get started. His proactive approach was a breath of fresh air because the prior Town Manager made very slow if any progress. When Mr. Peck approached Council with a plan or idea, he never presented a fragmented plan. He offered solutions to potential problems along with a means of assessing how well his plans were working. Council never had to second guess his plans or try to rework their details down the road.

Mr. Peck was productive and successful when solving problems. When Mr. Doetsch joined the Council it was facing major challenges. The previous Council had squandered money in the Town coffers. After Mr. Peck started he put the Town on the right road financially. The Council provided the roadmap of where it wanted to go, and Mr. Peck offered the strategies for how it could get there.

Mr. Peck was the leading proponent for building up the Town’s capital improvement fund. One way he accomplished this was by reviewing revenues and determining if there were instances in which the Town was giving up valuable revenues compared to how other towns were operating.

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Section 12 Reference Notes Calvin Peck

He examined other towns’ practices and brought back ideas which their town could incorporate. Mr. Peck was very skilled financially and a good judge of what needed to be done to get many more capital improvement projects going.

Mr. Peck faced problems and challenges with skill. During one period Murfreesboro was renovating its Town Hall and was experiencing a major building boom at the beach. So, while he kept the Town going in a positive direction he was also planning for an expansion of the Town, including additional manpower and funding.

If you ask him a question, Mr. Peck is the type of person who gives you a straight answer with no candy coating. He was always honest and upfront when dealing with the public. Some people like his approach while others did not. However, Mr. Peck always acted professionally when he was confronted by difficult residents.

A community member once came into the office and approached him in a very aggressive, caustic manner. Mr. Peck very calmly explained that the best option at that time was for him to leave and return when they could sit down and have a respectful discussion.

When he had to make hiring decisions Mr. Peck clearly understood the requirements of each position, demonstrated that he is a good judge of people, and made sure the person he chose to hire had the right fit, skills and abilities for the job.

Mr. Peck is very committed to his community. Living on the coast, not much time passed before he experienced his first hurricane. During the storm Mr. Peck did not simply sit in his office and attempt to manage the situation; he rallied employees and then went out into the community himself to take care of problems that arose. It was not in his nature to just let crises come to him; rather he looked out for problems, met them upfront, and worked hard to resolve them.

Nothing in Mr. Peck’s past would be considered controversial. Mr. Doetsch would hire Mr. Peck without reservation. He will make an excellent manager.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Aggressive,  Efficient,  Complete,  Professional,  Good communicator, and  Knowledgeable.

Strengths: A self-starter, meticulous with his details, and very good at explaining his work.

Weaknesses: Some people may find Mr. Peck’s communication style too direct.

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Section 12 Reference Notes Calvin Peck

Tony Caudle – Deputy City Manager, Wilmington, NC 910-465-6113

Mr. Caudle has known Mr. Peck since 1993. They were both City Managers. They did not work together on a daily basis; so Mr. Caudle was only able to observe Mr. Peck from afar. He did not witness Mr. Peck solving problems, hiring employees, or making decisions. However, from his viewpoint Mr. Peck was professional and well accepted by his community. He was responsible for Economic Development in Carolina Beach and the fundamental rebranding of that community. For example, he managed the cleanup of the City’s boardwalk and rejuvenated the area by attracting a variety of events to the area.

Nothing exists in Mr. Peck’s background that would be considered controversial. He has lived his life in a personally impeccable manner. He will continue to be an excellent City Manager for any municipality that employs him.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Confident,  Bold,  Professional, and  Direct.

Strengths: Does not shy away from responsibilities because of any potential outcome or the magnitude of a project, and is very confident.

Weaknesses: Mr. Peck has made great strides over the past years, but initially he was so bold and upfront that his style could have been off-putting to some people.

Dr. Suzanne Dorsey – Executive Director of BHI Conservancy, Bald Head Island, NC 336-813-3666 910-338-0910

Ms. Dorsey has known Mr. Peck since about 2005 when he came to work for Bald Head Island. Ms. Dorsey is the Executive Director for the Bald Head Island Conservancy. His job performance has been excellent. He possesses core knowledge about policies and the process of managing municipalities, and the community is better for having him there.

Bald Head Island has only about 200 permanent residents; so citizens are more likely than in other municipalities to become very involved over various issues. Mr. Peck did not take such direct interactions personally and has dealt very well with any difficult personalities who attacked him personally. Mr. Peck is excellent at dealing with the public when he attends Council or community meetings. Ms. Dorsey and Mr. Peck interact very well together. He is always respectful or professional; however, he certainly does not sugar coat any issues when he has to deliver challenging information to his elected officials or residents.

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Section 12 Reference Notes Calvin Peck

Mr. Peck makes good decisions in general and certainly when hiring. He had to make a Human Resource decision fairly recently when he terminated employment of an individual who was popular within the community, a difficult but correct decision. With his military background, Mr. Peck clearly follows a chain of command. In other words, he obtains direction from his Council then implements the plan. He is an excellent leader who has high expectations for the community and for his staff.

Nothing controversial exists in Mr. Peck’s background. The only people who might disagree with Ms. Dorsey’s positive endorsement of Mr. Peck would be a group of women who were very upset when Mr. Peck fired the Police Chief. They took very personal exception to his decision. Still, if she could, Ms. Dorsey would absolutely hire Mr. Peck because she respects him and values his skill set. He is an excellent manager and will continue to be in the future.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Professional,  No frills,  Capable,  Structured,  Gentleman, and  Intelligent.

Strengths: A strong working knowledge of municipal management, and able to deal with many different or difficult personality types in a respectful, professional manner.

Weaknesses: With his military background, he does not have a touchy-feely manner about him.

Dennis Barbour – Former Carolina Beach Mayor, Carolina Beach, NC 910-470-5041

Mr. Barbour has known Mr. Peck since about 1998 when Mr. Peck was hired as Manager for Carolina Beach. His job performance was outstanding. Carolina Beach took great strides while he was there and, if it could get him back now, the City surely would. One of Mr. Peck’s most influential accomplishments was the establishment of funding for projects in the Capital Improvement Plan. One project the City completed was the replacement of old terracotta water and sewer lines with PVC pipes. Mr. Peck was a strong leader who delegated tasks appropriately to help him complete his assignments.

Mr. Peck’s has strong financial knowledge and maintained a balanced budget. When Mr. Peck began, the undesignated fund had a balance of -8%. When Mr. Peck left, that same balance was at 42%. Mr. Peck is a retired military office and applies a structured approach to the process of making decisions.

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Mr. Peck identified the best employees to hire, including a Police Chief and a Fire Chief. He always explored options which would be good for the Town. He worked well with residents in the community and understood that, by living in the community he managed, he could have a greater impact. Mr. Peck also worked with department heads and had an open door policy for both them and his elected officials. He did not simply nod his head in agreement when dealing with his elected officials. He was prepared and willing to offer them direct, knowledgeable guidance.

Mr. Peck solved problems successfully. One instance occurred when Mr. Peck began developing the budget. He suggested a Capital Improvement Plan that would not require raising taxes. Instead, officials would simply take 4% of the dollars taxed and apply that amount to capital improvement. He worked in concert with the Council quite well and took whatever actions they required rather than what he might have wanted to do on his own. Mr. Peck never made quick decisions, nor conversely would he continue to flog a dead issue once Council had made a choice not to proceed.

Mr. Peck was forced into a situation where he had to replace the Police Chief, but some residents did not approve, even though the reasons for dismissal were justified. This decision, while not controversial per se, was not popular. Mr. Barbour would hire him again, if given the chance.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Organized,  Personable,  Caring,  Dedicated, and  Approachable.

Strengths: Creative, works well with people in the community as well as elected officials, and accomplished his work in a timely manner.

Weaknesses: None identified.

Larry Lammert – Former Bald Head Island Mayor, Bald Head Island, NC 910-457-6364

Mr. Lammert hired Mr. Peck in 2006. He was an excellent Village Manager. He is fully aware of state and village ordinances. Mr. Peck dealt with a variety of problems, but many of them involved tough personnel issues. That being said, he generally made good hiring decisions, and the individuals he hired usually remained for a long period.

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Mr. Peck helped Bald Head Island to function at a high level. One example occurred when Mr. Lammert and Mr. Peck went to Washington DC to work with the Core of Engineers. Together they figured out a process that would allow Bald Head to have sand put on its beaches.

Mr. Peck performed very well when dealing with the public. He handled individual concerns and attended community meetings. His financial skills were strong. He was manager who was in charge and who made sure tasks were completed on time. He expected his employees to do their jobs.

A Village Manager always has to face people who are not pleased with some action. For example, one woman did not appreciate the beach renourishment project because she had to walk further to reach to the water. However, Mr. Peck always responded to criticism with professionalism.

Mr. Peck does not have anything controversial in his background. Mr. Barbour would certainly hire Mr. Peck again. He will make an excellent City Manager.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Dedicated,  Loyal,  Calm,  Intelligent,  Creative, and  Responsible.

Strengths: Keeps Council well informed and keeps tasks moving in a timely manner.

Weaknesses: None identified.

David Hewitt – Town Manager, Holden Beach, NC 910-508-1950

Mr. Hewitt has known Mr. Peck since about 1999. Mr. Hewitt was the Manager in Leland while Mr. Peck was managing Carolina Beach; so they were both members of the North Carolina City and County Managers’ Association. Professionally, Mr. Peck seemed to do a fine job and adeptly handled all the natural disasters that occurred in their beach communities.

Although Mr. Peck obviously had to solve problems on a daily basis, Mr. Hewitt did not observe him solving any firsthand. However, he was able to observe how Mr. Peck handled the problem of erosion in his beach areas. He completed a beach nourishment project, which always involves permitting nightmares and requires millions of dollars in funding.

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Mr. Peck makes good decisions, especially in recruitment, hiring, and retention. Mr. Hewitt could offer no opinions regarding Mr. Peck’s ability to deal with the public or handle financial matters.

Mr. Hewitt is not aware of any controversy surrounding Mr. Peck. He would definitely hire Mr. Peck, if he was in a position to make such a choice. Mr. Hewitt’s opinion of Mr. Peck has only improved with time. He is a wonderful person both personally and professionally.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Relatable,  Empathetic,  Flexible,  High-caliber, and  Professional.

Strengths: Has the ability to maintain calmly above the fray, recruits and maintains good staff, and holds his employees accountable.

Weaknesses: He could get more personally involved instead of delegating at times.

Karen Ellison – Former HR Director, Bald Head Island, NC 910-616-3976

Ms. Ellison has known Mr. Peck since about 2012 when he hired her to be the Communications and Human Resources Director. She has the highest regard for Mr. Peck.

Mr. Peck is very responsive when dealing with the public and makes certain people receive the information they need. Some individuals were upset with his decision to terminate the Chief of Public Safety. The decision did not sit well and some members of the public lashed out at him, but Mr. Peck responded appropriately and never reacted in anger or desperation.

Mr. Peck has good financial skills. In fact, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington has asked him to be a guest speaker several times for its government finance classes. He has networked with other professionals and developed good relationships with surrounding municipalities.

Mr. Peck is innovative. For example, he has incorporated more technology into City Council deliberations. He helped the entire Council convert to using iPads, even some older members who found themselves outside of their comfort zones, technologically speaking. This initiative help the Council streamline its processes because they were able to share documents more easily and refer to the same information pieces more quickly.

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Mr. Peck successfully solved problems. The Village faced the problem of converting waste water so that the quality would be high enough for use with irrigation. This project required a high level because he had to deal with permitting, engineers, and members of the community. He partnered with the golf course to create a retention pond on the golf course. In addition, the Village required easements from about ten property owners. He met with all property owners to ease their concerns while still honoring the necessity of meeting certain engineering requirements.

Nothing in Mr. Peck’s background could be considered controversial or embarrassing. Ms. Ellison would hire Mr. Peck without reservation.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Honest,  Patient,  Fair,  Detail oriented,  Strong leader, and  Caring.

Strengths: Provides oversight for projects and sets clear priorities, and always takes the appropriate actions, even when doing so is not easy.

Weaknesses: Mr. Peck provides certain staff members with too many chances.

Chris McCall – Assistant Manager, Bald Head Island, NC 910-616-7625 910-457-9700

Mr. McCall has known Mr. Peck since about 2005 when Mr. McCall was the Assistant City Manager and Mr. Peck was the City Manager.

Mr. Peck’s job performance was excellent. He does not micromanage his employees but rather allows them do their jobs. He clearly communicates his expectations, with the understanding that, if they have any concerns or questions, he has an open door policy. Mr. Peck accomplishes tasks in a timely manner and makes good decisions, both in general and when hiring personnel.

Mr. Peck was constantly solving problems, but one that stood out occurred when he had to hire a new Public Safety Director. Everyone loved the previous Police Chief, but the Chief was simply not getting the job done. His decision to replace the Chief was not popular, but Mr. Peck made the right move. Now Bald Head has a new Director who is working out very well.

Mr. Peck collaborates well with both the Human Resources Director and the Council. He presents himself very professionally when he has to deal with the public, both in one-on-one

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Section 12 Reference Notes Calvin Peck interactions and in group settings. He does not rush to make decisions but rather always performs his due diligence.

Mr. Peck takes an innovative approach to all his responsibilities. He handled the merger of Bald Head’s Fire and EMS Departments with the Police Department to create a Public Safety Department, which was not a common practice in their area. He maximized the police officers’ abilities to fight fire by cross training them with firefighting skills. Mr. Peck’s intent was to reduce cost to the Village, and he was successful.

Mr. Peck works in tandem with his Finance Director and solicits input from his governing board so he can formulate a budget that will allow him to maintain the Village’s infrastructure and provide the services the citizens need and expect.

Mr. McCall is unaware of anything controversial in Mr. Peck’s background that would cause embarrassment for a future employer. He would definitely hire Mr. Peck, if given the chance.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Driven,  Diligent,  Humorous,  Witty, and  Professional.

Strengths: Communicates well with his department heads, and he takes direction then sets to work accomplishing the goals.

Weaknesses: He could make an effort to have more formal Department Head Meetings.

Charles Baldwin – Attorney, Bald Head Island, NC 910-524-9511 910-444-2020

Mr. Baldwin has known Mr. Peck since about 2007 through his role as the Attorney for Bald Head Island. He has been delighted to know and work with Mr. Peck, a person who is head and shoulders above many other Village Managers he has worked with. He understands the finer workings of municipal law and procedures, and is well versed in financial matters.

When Mr. Peck is faced with problems, he works hard to solve them. The Village was struggling with the problem of erosion, but Mr. Peck was able to locate $7 million in funding for a beach renourishment project using general obligation bonds and discounts from the national government.

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Section 12 Reference Notes Calvin Peck

Mr. Peck is also innovative when trying to develop clever ways of addressing issues. One example involved the need for more creek access with canoe put-in spots. Mr. Peck worked out a deal with residents to swap their dock access for increased driveway access.

Mr. Peck was timely when accomplishing tasks. He dealt with the public very well, especially considering the sometimes difficult environment when one tries to keep residents happy. Some of his decisions were not popular, but he was always active at village events.

Nothing in Mr. Peck’s background could be considered controversial. Mr. McCall would hire Mr. Peck. He will make an excellent City Manager.

Words or phrases used to describe Calvin Peck:

 Knowledgeable,  Hard working,  Honorable,  Creative, and  Competent.

Strengths: Makes sound decisions, and is not afraid to face challenging situations.

Weaknesses: None identified.

Completed by: Lynelle Klein and Ashley Bingham Colin Baenziger & Associates

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Section 12

CB&A Internet Research

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The Star News August 12, 2015

Fired officer's complaint against Bald Head Island moves forward By Adam Wagner

GREENVILLE -- A federal judge found insufficient grounds Wednesday to dismiss claims a former Bald Head Island public safety officer made against the town even as the judge allowed Calvin Peck, the village's manager, to be dismissed from the lawsuit.

Malcolm J. Howard, a senior U.S. District Judge, found that Peck was acting in his official capacity as manager when he fired Herbert Bryant and four other officers on Aug. 28, 2014. That means, Howard wrote, that the claims against Peck and the claims against the town are duplicative. Among the claims Howard allowed to move forward were that Bryant's right to procedural due process had been violated, that Bald Head intentionally inflicted emotional distress and that Bryant's right to privacy had been violated. "We're looking forward to proceeding with these claims to vindicate Mr. Bryant and repair his reputation to the extent that we can," said Corey Reiss, an attorney representing Bryant.

Peck declined comment Wednesday, saying he hadn't yet seen the ruling.

Norwood Blanchard, who is representing the town, said, "The village is pleased that Judge Howard dismissed Mr. Peck from the lawsuit." Blanchard added that he was not surprised the other claims were allowed to move forward because of the fact-intensive nature of employment cases. Nevertheless, Blanchard remains optimistic about the village's chances to win the suit. "The lawsuit's meritless," Blanchard said. "I don't mind saying that at all. That's the gospel."

Bryant and three other officers were fired, the town said, because they violated village policy against sexual harassment, discourteous treatment of other employees and inappropriate electronic communications when they sent each other a series of text messages.

A fifth officer was fired for slightly different reasons.

Bryant's team provided sufficient evidence for the procedural due process claim to move forward, Howard wrote, citing the lack of a chance to respond to claim made in the termination letter. “Plaintiff has alleged sufficient facts to show he has suffered a stigma on his reputation caused by the Village's publication of false charges contained in his termination letter without first having a meaningful opportunity to refute the charges,” Howard wrote in his decision. Bryant also alleged the lack of an opportunity to respond to his termination led to embarrassment and lost employment opportunities.

Howard wrote that Bryant's lack of a chance to reply could have created a "high likelihood" for emotional distress, anguish, humiliation and ridicule.

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"Furthermore," Howard wrote, "the Village's refusal to give plaintiff a meaningful opportunity to respond to the charges contained in his termination letter in violation of his constitutional rights before its publication could ... show sufficient alleged reckless indifference to satisfy the second element (of reckless indifference.)"

As far as the right to privacy claim, Howard wrote that Bryant could have expected information about his firing to be withheld until he had a chance to respond to the claims against him. "This is about a public employee's rights," Reiss said, "and the case will be about whether there's a consequence for violating them."

Bryant is asking for monetary damages.

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Section 12 Internet – Newspaper Archives Searches CALVIN R. PECK, JR. (Articles are in reverse chronological order) http://www.foxwilmington.com/ Posted: Jan 15, 2015 4:30 PM Bald Head Island residents suffering loss during Jan 4-5 power outage allowed to make claims Bald Head Island's Village Manager Calvin Peck says the town put in a claim for about $4,000 worth of diesel fuel. (Source: WECT)

Last week, hundreds of people from Caswell Beach to Bald Head Island were without power and now they are trying to get help. Over 1,300 customers were without power from early last Sunday morning to late last Monday afternoon.

Wednesday morning, the Village of Bald Head Island's Facebook page gave instructions for residents affected by the outage to file a claim. "If you have an insurance claim you wish to file as a result of the power outage January 4 and 5, Duke Energy has requested that you contact Sedgewick Claims at 855-398-2370 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday," the post said.

Bald Head Island's Village Manager Calvin Peck says the town put in a claim for about $4,000 worth of diesel fuel. Duke Energy Progress representative Jeff Brooks says more than a dozen people have called in a claim.

Peck says the 1-800 customer service number that Duke Energy suggests customers call is difficult to navigate through the multiple service options. That is why he's trying to spread the word about the Sedgewick Claims number.

"It was not the result of negligence on the part of Duke Energy. It was the result of a collision with a barge into one of our lines and the subsequent repair was the extent of the outage," said Brooks.

"What we do is we look at each claim individually. We evaluate what's the best course of action and then we do respond directly to the customer regardless, so whatever the claim was they submitted they will get a response from Duke explaining the result of their claim review and what the next steps are," added Brooks.

Brooks also added that anyone who would like to make a claim has up to three years to do so.

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Brunswick Beacon, The (Shallotte, NC) November 4, 2014

Bald Head Island removes human resources position Author: Sam Hickman

A Bald Head Island human resources and communications director has been let go by the village, village manager Calvin Peck said. The village voted to eliminate the position of human resources/communications, which was previously held by Karen Ellison, at an Oct. 17 council meeting.

Peck labeled Ellison’s removal a “reduction in force” in an Oct. 29 email to the Beacon: “ … Mayor (Andrew) Sayre said, ‘After due consideration and evaluation of village needs and staffing, I believe it is time to change how the village handles its HR and communications functions. My thought is to eliminate the current position of joint HR/communications, have a reduction in force of that employee, and create a new HR specialist position. I would entertain a motion for elimination of the current position and creation of a new HR specialist position.’”

The motion to eliminate the position passed unanimously, 5-0. Sayre publicly thanked Ellison, who was hired by the village in January 2012, for her service. The decision came just days after a former village public safety officer filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming he was wrongfully terminated in August.

Herbert Bryant, who served as a public safety official on Bald Head Island from 2009 until his termination, filed suit Oct. 7 against the village and Peck. According to the complaint, Bryant has demanded a jury to hear the case. Five public safety officers with the village of Bald Head Island were fired Aug. 28, according to termination letters to the officers. The terminations allegedly stemmed from incidents regarding inappropriate text messages sent between members of the public safety staff. The lawsuit claims these were text messages sent between staff members on their personal cell phones while they were off duty.

Bryant, Donald Koons and Nick Terrell were terminated for violating village policies related to sexual harassment, harassment, discourteous treatment of other employees and inappropriate electronic communications between July 25 and Aug. 15, the letters state.

Jesse Conner violated village policies related to discourteous treatment of other employees and inappropriate electronics communications while Thomas Cannon was terminated for violations related to harassment, discourteous treatment of other employees and inappropriate electronics communications, Peck wrote in the letters. No details of the incidents that led the officers’ termination were given.

Bryant and Terrell were hired in 2009, Koons and Conner in 2012 and Cannon in 2008. Terrell and Cannon were lieutenants with the department, while Koons, Conner and Bryant were officers. Page 39 of 93

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Brunswick Beacon, The (Shallotte, NC) October 14, 2014

Former Bald Head officer files federal lawsuit against village, manager Author: Sam Hickman

A former Bald Head Island public safety official has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming he was wrongfully terminated from the village in August. Herbert Bryant, who served as a public safety official on Bald Head Island from 2009 until his termination, filed suit against the village of Bald Head Island and its manager, Calvin Peck, Oct. 7 in United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

According to the complaint, Bryant has demanded a jury trial to hear the case. “This is a civil action seeking compensatory damages … for the deprivation of the Plantiff’s civil rights by the Defendants, and specifically, the Plantiff’s constitutional right of due process, liberty interests, free speech and right to privacy,” the lawsuit reads. The claim also asserts violations and common law claims of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and wrongful discharge. Gary Shipman, of Shipman & Wright LLP based in Wilmington, is representing Bryant.

Five public safety officers with the village of Bald Head Island were fired Aug. 28, according to termination letters to the officers. The terminations allegedly stemmed from incidents regarding inappropriate text messages sent between members of the public safety staff. The lawsuit claims these were text messages sent between staff members on their personal cell phones while they were off duty.

“As friends do, the Plaintiff and other members of the Public Safety Department, while off-duty, would periodically send text messages on their personal phones to each other about topics that both friends and co-workers would typically discuss,” the suit reads. “Over the next several hours on the evening of August 6, 2014, the Plaintiff’s male friends continued to chat and joke about a number of things, with the Plaintiff quoting a line from the Will Farrell movie ‘Talladega Nights’: ‘The room startin’ to spin real fast cuz of the gayness.’” According to the lawsuit, “Later that evening, the Plaintiff joked to his co-workers who were part of the string of text messages that ‘I heard on Yik Yak the other day that Matt and Nicky were lovers’ and that ‘It’s like in the movies. You know when at first the characters hate each other but then they become lovers. That is how it is with Matt and Nicky’, with ‘Nicky’ (Nick Terrell) being part of the string of text messages, with ‘Nicky’ knowing that the Plaintiff was joking.” Other text messages that were discussed in the lawsuit were correspondence from public safety officers who were critical of the village’s public safety director, Caroline Mitchell.

The lawsuit claims Bryant was never given an opportunity to respond to any of the allegations against him in his termination letter from Peck on Aug. 28. Bryant was not provided a copy of any of the communications that Peck contended “violated village policies.” Peck nor Mitchell

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Section 12 Internet – Newspaper Archives Searches CALVIN R. PECK, JR. (Articles are in reverse chronological order) provided an explanation as to the basis for the contention that any “conduct in which (Bryant) engaged constituted harassment, sexual harassment, discourteous treatment, inappropriate electronic communications or detrimental personal conduct.”

In the village personnel policy, it states an employee will be given two counseling sessions and written warnings from the supervisor. Bryant never received a counseling session or written warnings before his termination, the lawsuit alleges. Also, before a firing, an employee is entitled to a pre-dismissal conference, which was never afforded to Bryant, either, the lawsuit states. Bryant was also not afforded his appeal rights, which are outlined in the village’s grievance policy, the lawsuit alleges.

The firings

Five public safety officers with the village of Bald Head Island were fired Aug. 28, according to termination letters written by Peck and shared by Karen Williams, the village’s director of communications.

Bryant, Donald Koons and Nick Terrell were terminated for violating village policies related to sexual harassment, harassment, discourteous treatment of other employees and inappropriate electronic communications between July 25 and Aug. 15, the letters state.

Jesse Conner violated village policies related to discourteous treatment of other employees and inappropriate electronics communications while Thomas Cannon was terminated for violations related to harassment, discourteous treatment of other employees and inappropriate electronics communications, Peck wrote in the letters.

No details of the incidents that led the officers’ termination were given.

Bryant and Terrell were hired in 2009, Koons and Conner in 2012 and Cannon in 2008. Terrell and Cannon were lieutenants with the department, while Koons, Conner and Bryant were officers. “The village of Bald Head Island announced that after a thorough investigation, five public safety personnel were dismissed for cause yesterday morning,” an Aug. 29 news release from the village of Bald Head Island reads. “The officers were released because of violations of internal policies. The village has adequate staff to continue all operations and will replace the officers.”

Peck said the actions were not criminal in nature. “The actions of these officers constituted a violation of our internal policies, and although not criminal in nature, we determined that the acts were sufficiently harmful to warrant termination,” he said. “I applaud Dr. Caroline Mitchell, our director of public safety, for putting the interests of her employees ahead of public opinion. Leadership is defined in moments like this when the right path must take precedent over the easy path.”

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Bald Head Island residents call for manager to go Submitted by Hannah Patrick 09/12/2014

BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC (WWAY) -- Bald Head Island residents pointed fingers at village management during a village meeting today. After nine public safety officers were disciplined recently, including five who were fired, for personnel matters, residents say they want to see change in leadership. There was a full house at the Bald Head Island council meeting "One comment said, "We need to ask the right questions," Resident Marilyn Ridgeway said. Ridgeway says she came asking questions for several concerned residents. That concern, she says, lies in the village's manager Calvin Peck. "Because he has an agenda and he wants to be in control," Ridgeway said. "He's not a leader. He's a boss. It's my way or the highway."

Ridgeway handed the council a packet she says is full of examples where Peck has broken the personnel policy. "There are too many for me to list," Ridgeway said. Ridgeway says this is the third time she has brought this issue to the table in the last two years. She says she never gets a response.

"Calvin doesn't have to speak to people," Ridgeway said. "You've understood that. He doesn't speak to people. He doesn't speak to citizens either." So, she left the meeting with one last question. "I'm tired of being asked, Why don't they just fire the village manager?" Ridgeway said. "That is our last question."

That decision is up to the council. "They have to make some decisions," Ridgeway said. "Do they think this administration is salvageable? I personally don't think it is." He won't respond to the media either. Today Peck refused to talk to WWAY. The members of the Village Council also hurried out of the meeting without talking, just as they did at the meeting in September 2012 when Ridgeway first raised issues about Peck.

A village spokeswoman said she would not talk on camera because her hair did not look good.

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ONLY ON 3: Bald Head Island residents call for investigation into village manager Marissa Jasek 09/08/2012

Bald Head Island residents say one man is tearing apart their small community. Last week the island's public safety chief resigned, which was the tipping point for residents to call for an investigation into their village manager, who they say is at the center of all their problems.

The quiet community of Bald Head Island is considered a paradise to many, but to its small population of residents, the resignation of their Public Safety Chief Jerome "Chip" Munna was a wake up call.

“To just rip him out of this community has just ripped the heart out of this community,” says Jane Oakley, a Bald Head Island homeowner. “We are upset about this.”

After 14 years of service and an internal investigation, Chief Munna resigned. Now Bald Head Island residents say it's all because of the village manager, Calvin Peck.

“It’s like an onion,” says Oakley. “If you peel back the layers of an onion to get to the truth, Calvin’s in the middle of it, in my opinion.”

For more than five years, Peck has served as village manager, and residents say there are numerous issues surrounding him. The most recent, and some say last straw, was Chief Munna's departure.

“That’s when we became politically active,” says Jane Johnson, another BHI resident.

Residents have organized a petition to investigate Peck and the many documented complaints from employees and homeowners, including issues like creating a hostile work environment and forcing employees to resign.

“I would like to see Calvin Peck gone and Chip returned to this island,” Oakley says.

In April, Peck received the "Outstanding Manager" award by the Cape Fear Council of Governments.

Residents plan to present the petition to village council during their September 21 meeting. We reached out to Peck, but he has not returned our request for comment.

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Port City Daily

BHI terminal groin funding going to ballot; public hearing on project Tuesday March 3, 2014 By Ben Brown

Bald Head Island’s bid to be one of the first and few coastal communities in North Carolina to build a terminal groin could hinge on a vote.

On the May 6 primary ballot, the island’s electorate will decide whether to fund the idea’s $8 million phase-one cost. “This important election will affect the community for years to come,” Village of Bald Head Manager Calvin Peck said in a bulletin to residents. “Your vote will determine whether to grant the village the power to issue bonds for the terminal groin project.” A terminal groin is like a rocky arm or low-sitting wall reaching out from the end of an island to hold sand that might otherwise erode away, meaning its placement could reduce the frequency of beach nourishment projects that cost millions upon millions of dollars each.

Peter Ravella, a consultant the village hired to guide the project’s funding plan, put it this way: “This is less expensive than not doing it.”The plan is to build a terminal groin at the convergence of South and West beaches, near what locals call the Point. A beach fill project would, by law, have to accompany the terminal groin’s installation, essentially creating beach width for the groin to maintain. The second phase of the two-part project would, as planned, come in 2019 with another $10 million bond issue ($8 million for construction and $2 million in contingency). The Point has suffered erosion problems for years, with locals blaming the proximity of the Wilmington Harbor Shipping Channel. (The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the channel, has denied that allegation and has won in related legal challenges.) Related story: Bald Head expenses at $1.7M in legal action against Corps

To hold the western end of South Beach together–and to protect nearby homes, roads, infrastructure and sea turtle nesting grounds–the island has long eyed groin construction. While terminal groins are not at all a new concept, they were illegal in North Carolina until law changed in 2011 to allow up to four of them at struggling inlet beaches. In general, they’ve long been a controversial idea here, with groups including the N.C. Coastal Federation saying the structures–which some alternately call jetties–hinder sand from reaching down drift shorelines, essentially starving them.

Past story: Groin law modified Per the law change, it’s on the applicant to address any damages, but village officials do not predict any such issues. Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Figure Eight Island are also pursuing terminal groin permits and would max out the four-groin cap.

Public hearing, funding workshops

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A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in Southport on the draft environmental impact statement associated with Bald Head’s proposal. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. at the International Longshoreman’s Association Hall, 211 W. 10th St.

The Corps of Engineers is also accepting written comments through March 17. “All comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers in its determination on whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal,” said a Corps press release Monday.

Written comments should go to Ronnie Smith, Wilmington Regulatory Field Office, 69 Darlington Ave., Wilmington, N.C. 28403. Bald Head has scheduled additional workshops regarding the project, all at the Bald Head Island Conservancy, 700 Federal Road on the island. A March 19 installation, from 3-5 p.m., will feature the project’s technical design with engineer Erik Olsen. From 5-7 p.m. on the same date, Ravella, the village’s consultant, will discuss project funding. The workshops will repeat March 20, the first segment at 1-3 p.m. and the second from 3-5. “The Bald Head Island community faces an important decision and the future of the village’s shoreline management strategy is in your hands,” wrote Peck to islanders. “The workshops will help each voter make an informed decision on both the technical design and financial issues presented by the project.”

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Brunswick Beacon, The (Shallotte, NC) February 26, 2014

Quarter-cent sales tax increase vote added to May 6 primary ballot Author: Brian Slattery

BOLIVIA — Brunswick County voters will decide on a quarter-cent county sales tax increase after commissioners approved a referendum to add to the May 6 primary election ballot. The decision was made at a special called meeting Monday that county staff announced Thursday, Feb. 20. The vote was not unanimous. The referendum passed 4-1 with Commissioner Frank Williams opposing the measure. “This came up quick. It was only on my radar one week ago,” Williams said. He commented on the short notice for the meeting, saying he thought “more people would be here.” Williams also said he thought a vote during the primary election would draw fewer voters than adding it to the general election ballot.

Following the meeting, Williams emailed this statement about the referendum: “My vote against this proposal should not be misinterpreted as a vote against funding our schools or against supporting our coastal communities. While I strongly support our public schools and absolutely believe that the county must play a role in protecting our shoreline, I have several concerns about this proposal. First, this came about very quickly, and decisions like this should not be rushed. Second, I have concerns about placing this referendum on the ballot in a primary election rather than a general election. Third, I believe we should exhaust all other options before considering a tax increase of any kind, even one that is ultimately put in the hands of voters in the form of a referendum.”

Commissioner Marty Cooke said the board is not making a determination to raise anyone’s taxes, but giving the decision to the voters. Commissioner Pat Sykes echoed his view by saying her campaign platform was against raising, and she was not going against that by supporting the referendum because it lets citizens decide to add the quarter-cent sales tax. Commissioner Scott Phillips said he supported the vote to increase the sales tax because of the focus on beaches and schools. “I support this. It may seem like cherry picking different things to pay for, but this is where the needs are,” Phillips said.

Chairman Phil Norris said Brunswick County’s tax rate is as low as it is because of the value of tourism to the beaches. He said if beach values go down because the county isn’t meeting the beach community needs, taxes will go up. He said he preferred to share the cost with Brunswick County’s visitors than put it all on residents. “Rather than pay through property taxes, we can pay with sales tax,” Norris said. “This is an opportunity to save me money. If we put it on the ballot, I’m going to vote for it.”

Taxes versus needs

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County Manager Ann Hardy explained the state’s General Assembly authorized county boards of commissioners to levy a quarter-cent county sales and use tax, contingent on an advisory referendum in which the majority of those casting ballots voted for the levy of the tax. “I know that members of this board have made it clear that you are not in favor of raising taxes,” she said. “What we are bringing to you today is the opportunity to make the public aware of the critical needs of our beach community and instructional classroom capital outlay needs so that they may decide if the additional sales tax is the best way to meet these needs.” Hardy said the county tax rate of 44.25 cents does not provide the needed funds to assist the beach communities with dredging, beach renourishment, public beach access and terminal groin construction or meet the capital needs of the school system. “The additional quarter-cent sales tax would share the cost for these needs with both residents and visitors to the county,” she said.

The current combined state and local options sales tax in Brunswick County is 6.75 percent, Hardy said. “At 6.75 percent sales tax rate, Brunswick County sales tax is one-quarter of a cent less than New Hanover (County). The rate in North Myrtle beach is eight percent and nine percent in Myrtle Beach. The problem is the state and the federal governments are reducing and eliminating funding for essential projects such as dredging and beach renourishment. Such things now fall to the county and the municipalities,” she said. “Economic development of our beach and island communities is important to the entire county. Dredging and beach renourishment is necessary to protect the valuable tourist economy of the county.”

Hardy said Brunswick County Schools has assessed critical capital needs of more than $100 million. “The county is continuing to pay the debt on the 1999 voter approved bond referendum with payments in excess of $5 million annually through 2020. It is hoped that this quarter-cent sales tax revenue could delay the need for another school bond referendum to closer to the time when the current debt will be paid off,” she said. Hardy said after the board meeting the quarter- cent sales tax increase would bring in an additional $3 million a year.

The sales tax would grow over time as sales increase within the county, estimated at 3 to 5 percent per year. The resolution designates that 50 percent of the collected quarter-cent proceeds will be designated for beach community needs: dredging, beach renourishment, public beach access or terminal groins. “Some years, if the needs are low the money would stay in a fund. Other years funding would be available when projects are available,” Hardy said. The other 50 percent collected would be designated for repair, renovation or construction of school facilities, not for central office administrative facilities. “Each year the commissioners would receive priority needs,” Hardy said.

Public comments

Before the board members voted on the referendum, Norris opened a public comment period. He received comments from four elected officials, a town manager and a private citizen, who was the only one to voice opposition to the referendum and quarter-cent sales tax proposal. Calvin Peck, Bald Head Island village manager, said when the Wilmington shipping channel was realigned in 2000, there was supposed to be no cost to his town. But the town has since Page 47 of 93

Section 12 Internet – Newspaper Archives Searches CALVIN R. PECK, JR. (Articles are in reverse chronological order) spent $25 million on sand replenishment and groins and is preparing its own referendum on spending $18 million on a terminal groin. “The bottom line is, we need help,” Peck said. Colleen Combs, a Southport resident, called for commissioners to look for another option to a tax increase. “It’s a bad time to raise sales taxes. You should find a different way,” Combs said.

When Norris asked her if she had an opinion on how they should find a different way, Combs had one to offer. “It seems all (government) bodies have a budget. If beach rebuilding is the priority, budget for it,” Combs said. She said if the beach is the priority, other items need to be eliminated, such as parks and recreation programs. John Thompson, chairman of the Brunswick County Board of Education, said Brunswick County Schools have substantial facility needs. If the referendum is approved by the public, the “relatively small increase will help defer (spending) for a few years,” he told the commissioners. “There are $20 million to 30 million in growth needs alone we will have to add in the next few years,” he said.

Without the referendum, Thompson said, he could be back before the county board soon to ask for the $20 million. Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith and Holden Beach Mayor Alan Holden both spoke to the board in support of the referendum, but said they were speaking as individuals, not town representatives. “Supporting a tax increase is difficult, Smith said. But she promoted both aims of the sales tax increase, saying nothing is more important than educating Brunswick’s youth and the beach communities are serious economic drivers for the county.

Smith also wanted to ensure the resolution’s statement that 50 percent of the collected quarter- cent sales tax proceeds identified for beach community needs include funding public access and public parking. “As a lifelong resident, I feel I have a reasonably good grasp on good ideas. This is a good idea. We can’t come up with a better idea than this at this time. I support it wholeheartedly,” Holden said.

Carolina Shores Mayor Walter Goodenough said he last talked to the board during the ad valorem tax change to the sales tax distribution discussion. After the board said it had to find a better way than ad valorem taxes, he said he was glad it found an alternative with the proposed quarter-cent sales tax referendum. Combs said she attended after hearing about the meeting over the weekend. “I was a little surprised. Here was so much support in favor and just me (as a) citizen here. That has to do with the short notice.” She was disappointed with the with the proposal and officials’ response to it.“It’s always the same. It’s always a good cause,” Combs said. “It’s always a higher burden on the taxpayers. My question is, when is enough enough?”

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Before It’s News December 10, 2012

Dead beached pygmy sperm whale returns to Bald Head Island, North Carolina Author: Kate Elizabeth Queram

A beached whale pushed back out to sea Sunday afternoon died sometime during the night and floated back onto Bald Head Island's eastern shore this morning, officials said.

"It has washed back on the beach late this morning, around 11," said Village Manager Calvin Peck. "The North Carolina Marine Mammal Stranding Team is working on a plan to return the body to their lab for a necropsy."

The whale – believed to be a female pygmy sperm whale, between 10 and 15 feet long – first washed up on East Beach around 11 a.m. Sunday, according to Suzanne Dorsey, executive director of the Bald Head Island Conservancy.

"We started our wildlife protocol, which is to contact the standing team," Dorsey said. "We dispatched some folks out to the island and started organizing getting the stranding team out here."

While officials awaited the arrival of the team, a handful of Bald Head Island residents decided to band together and push the whale back out to sea, a well-meaning but ultimately incorrect course of action. As a federally protected species, it's illegal to come within 1,500 feet of certain species of whales.

"Their intention was in no way bad, and they didn't know the stranding team was en route," Dorsey said. "But it died while they were pushing it back into the water, and doing that prevented us from getting the stranding team there.

"That team has a vet and the vet could have hopefully helped it, and if nothing else could have euthanized the whale, stopped its suffering and determined the cause of death."

Conservancy staff waited for the whale to wash back on shore and early this morning alerted members of the stranding team, who are on-site.

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Stateportpilot.com September 30, 2012

Bald Head council backs manager amid residents' discontent over Munna firing Author: Lee Hinnant

Discontent about the recent resignation of Bald Head Island’s public safety chief Jerome (“Chip”) Munna Jr. boiled over into outrage last week when several residents demanded that the village council fire manager Calvin Peck.

Instead, councilors offered a unanimous statement of support for Peck and insisted that Munna’s suspension, and eventual resignation, came through a deliberate, thoughtful process that did not directly involve council.

A 14-year veteran with the village, Munna was suspended with pay on August 17 and resigned 25 days later. Officials would say only that Munna violated a personnel policy but had not engaged in any unlawful activity.

The event sparked backlash among some residents, who began a petition drive asking for an investigation of the manager’s activities and asked council to fire him.

In a statement to the crowd at the September 21 meeting of council, mayor Andrew Sayre said that Peck and human resources manager Karen Ellison “concluded that new leadership was needed at the Public Safety Department. This is a decision with which the chief agreed and he voluntarily resigned….

“Council supported the process undertaken by the manager and human relations director…,” Sayre said. “Council recognizes the decision of the chief to resign is not popular with a number of the public, as he was highly involved with the community. Chip worked closely with the Public Safety Auxiliary and council appreciates and thanks him for his many years of service.”

The mayor said he considered the matter closed and would not entertain questions.

Resident Marilyn Ridgeway said the issue was far from over.

“This will be an ongoing petition,” she said, adding that she had collected more than 100 signatures from residents who want Peck gone.

She said the manager “thrives on discord and lawsuits” and had created a negative environment for village employees.

“When only one voice is allowed, how can you work as a team?” Ridgeway said. “We lost the best-loved employee on the island.”

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“We are not happy with his decisions,” said resident Jane Johnson. “You need to listen to the voice of the people.” Johnson suggested the village reconsider its charter and vest more power in the council instead of the manager. She also said the village could do without Ellison, who also serves as public information officer.

“The seeds of discontent have fallen on fertile soil,” said Diane Mesaris. “It may take a year, but the populous will, in a democratic way, replace the emperor. Calvin Peck may have won the battle, but he has not won the war.”

Peck declined comment.

The village is actively seeking a new director of public safety and will hold a public “scoping” meeting on that topic at 10 a.m. Thursday at the public safety building. Councilor Art Morris is serving as the council’s representative in the search.

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WWAY 3 News Channel September 21, 2012

Bald Head Island residents speak out against Town Manager Author: Katie Harden

BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC (WWAY) -- We told you a few weeks ago about controversy on Bald Head Island. Friday the citizens of the island told the Village Council what they thought about Village Manager Calvin Peck.

"You put your name on the ballot. We elected you. You represent us," resident Jane Johnson told the council.

Villagers say they decided to speak out against Peck after Public Safety Chief Chip Munna resigned a few weeks ago. Citizens say Munna resigned because of a personality conflict with Peck.

The Village Council says it has said all it can about the situation involving Munna and Peck.

"Departmental matters, employee performance evaluations and personnel decisions cannot be handled in the court of public opinion," Bald Head Island Mayor Andy Sayre told the crowd.

We tried to talk to Mayor Sayre after the meeting. He said the matter was closed and would concentrate on getting a new Public Safety Director. Peck said he would rather not comment.

Villagers say they plan to keep on fighting until they see results.

"This is going to be an ongoing petition. We will constantly accept signatures,” resident Marilyn Ridgeway said. "We will be watching to be sure the negative behaviors are not acted upon by Calvin Peck, and we’ll make sure this village gets back into the hands of the people."

So far the petition has more than 100 signatures. Villagers plan to collect more in the days and weeks to come.

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WWAY 3 News Channel September 18, 2012

Documents, e-mails shed light on BHI chief's resignation Author: Holden Kurwicki

BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC (WWAY) -- Documents and e-mails are shedding some new light on what may have led to the resignation of Bald Head Island's Public Safety Chief.

The Village of Bald Head Island requested an external audit of its public safety department. It may have received more than it expected.

In March, Bald Head Island Village Manager Calvin Peck contacted Leonard Matarese of ICMA to perform the first audit of the public safety services since the village formed the department in 2009. In the e-mail Peck outlined that it was time for an external review of the department to "get better, leaner, and less expensive."

BHI paid ICMA $7,000 to perform the audit, which was released in July. The report summarized that crime was low on the island, and that structure fires only occurred every 18 months.

But it said that due to the high value of personal property on the island, maintaining a highly visible law enforcement presence is critical to tourism, which sustains the island's economy. It also recommended that police officers be cross-trained as firefighters to save the village money.

In a follow-up email sent August 11, Matarese told Peck that "we were not hired to do an investigation of personnel; we were actually to review the operations of the public safety department."

He then writes, "we addressed the operational issues. The problem there (the Public Safety Department) appears to be managerial/HR related not operational."

Six days later, the village placed Public Safety Chief Jerome "Chip" Munna on administrative leave. He resigned September 5.

Bald Head Island Communications Director Karen Ellison told WWAY by phone today that the village has not taken any steps to address the recommendations in the report. She said village leaders won't address any questions about the report until a new public safety chief is in place.

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WWAY 3 News Channel September 8, 2012

Bald Head Island residents call for investigation into village manager Author: Marissa Jasek

BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC (WWAY) -- Bald Head Island residents say one man is tearing apart their small community. Last week the island's public safety chief resigned, which was the tipping point for residents to call for an investigation into their village manager, who they say is at the center of all their problems.

The quiet community of Bald Head Island is considered a paradise to many, but to its small population of residents, the resignation of their Public Safety Chief Jerome "Chip" Munna was a wake up call.

“To just rip him out of this community has just ripped the heart out of this community,” says Jane Oakley, a Bald Head Island homeowner. “We are upset about this.”

After 14 years of service and an internal investigation, Chief Munna resigned. Now Bald Head Island residents say it's all because of the village manager, Calvin Peck.

“It’s like an onion,” says Oakley. “If you peel back the layers of an onion to get to the truth, Calvin’s in the middle of it, in my opinion.”

For more than five years, Peck has served as village manager, and residents say there are numerous issues surrounding him. The most recent, and some say last straw, was Chief Munna's departure.

“That’s when we became politically active,” says Jane Johnson, another BHI resident.

Residents have organized a petition to investigate Peck and the many documented complaints from employees and homeowners, including issues like creating a hostile work environment and forcing employees to resign.

“I would like to see Calvin Peck gone and Chip returned to this island,” Oakley says.

In April, Peck received the "Outstanding Manager" award by the Cape Fear Council of Governments.

Residents plan to present the petition to village council during their September 21 meeting. We reached out to Peck, but he has not returned our request for comment.

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Stateportpilot.com April 4, 2012

Peck is named top government manager in four-county region Author: Unknown

Bald Head Island’s municipal government has “outstanding” leadership in village manager Calvin Peck.

That’s according to the Cape Fear Council of Governments (COG), which last week presented Peck the “Outstanding Manager” award at the organization’s annual awards banquet held in Hampstead.

COG, a regional program administrator established by the state legislature, covers local governments in Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties. It singled-out Peck for his “efforts to mentor others and engage in regional issues,” according to a news release from the village.

COG executive director Chris May called Peck an experienced leader with a wide wingspan and an eye on the greater future of his field.

“Calvin has always had a heart for the up-and-coming administrators, having served on the UNC-Wilmington Community Advisory Board since its inception, even chairing the committee for a few years,” May said during the award’s presentation. “An (International City/County Management Association) credentialed manager and active member of the N.C. City/County Managers Association, Calvin chairs the Membership Outreach Committee serving the needs of fellow managers statewide.

“In addition,” May continued, “he serves as the association’s outreach contact to the UNC- Wilmington MPA program, where he cultivates striving local government administrators, mentoring them on the importance of public service.”

Peck has 13 years of management experience along the coast and will mark his sixth year with the Village of Bald Head Island in October.

Previously, he was town manager of Carolina Beach and, before that, town administrator of Murfreesboro.

He holds a bachelor of science degree from Campbell University and a master of arts degree in public policy and administration from Purdue University.

Born in 1957 at U.S. Army installation Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Peck joined the Army in 1975 and served 20 years before retiring with the rank of captain.

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StarNews (Wilmington, NC) March 22, 2012

Cape Fear River to be dredged this year Author: Kate Elizabeth Queram

The shipping channel near the mouth of the Cape Fear River will be dredged later this year for the first time since 2009, capping a years-long period of beach erosion on Bald Head Island that saw large swaths of the sand slip from the coastline into the shipping passage.

Under an Army Corps of Engineers sand management plan, the inner bar area – which passes within 400 feet of Bald Head's south beach – is required to be dredged every two years as part of an overall maintenance schedule that keeps the channel at a depth of 44 feet.

Per the agreement, beach communities adjacent to the shipping channel receive on a rotating basis the roughly 1.5-million cubic yards of sand pumped from the water during each dredge cycle. That sediment plays a key role in preventing shoreline erosion for those coastal areas, and when funding problems prevented the corps from dredging the channel in 2011, Bald Head residents – who had been waiting four years for their turn on the receiving end – saw a significant portion of their beach slip into the water.

"We knew we were going to have to go for a gap, but then the gap got doubled because of a lack of funding," said Chris McCall, the island's shoreline protection coordinator. "We've been in a holding pattern, but right now, the corps is telling us it will be dredged."

The three years between dredge cycles was due to an overall funding shortage for the corps, which forced project managers to prioritize dredging for other parts of the shipping channel.

"Last year, we got $12.4 million for maintenance dredging, We had a need of more like $18-24 million," said Bob Keistler, the corps' navigation project manager. "So we talked to the pilots and asked, ‘From start to finish, what are the most critical areas for speed bumps?' For the last two cycles, Bald Head was not on that list."

But the channel has worsened since then. According to hydrograph studies from the corps, parts of the inner bar area are as deep as 49 feet, well above the required depth of 44 feet. But other areas, mostly on the edge of the channel closest to the shoreline, are as shallow as 2.3 feet, making the passage precarious for ship pilots.

"It is concerning, because when you talk to the Cape Fear pilots when they come in, they're bringing ships that draft at 41, 42 feet," Keistler said. "When they get too far to that right side, it's a dangerous situation. It's gotten worse and worse every year, and it is an issue now."

He said it's likely the channel will be dredged at the end of the year, due to both the continuous sand shoaling and a budget boost from $1.98 million of supplemental funding from fiscal year 2012 and an additional $6 million in relief money for damage from Hurricane Irene.

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Bald Head officials said they were pleased that the beaches may finally be replenished, but that the dredge cycle's dependence on emergency funding was concerning. Since 2003, according to Village Manager Calvin Peck, Bald Head residents have spent roughly $24 million on supplemental dredging projects to keep sand on the beaches in the absence of "timely maintenance" by the corps.

"Without the hurricane, it's quite possible we would not be receiving sand this winter for the third time," he said. "It's not just our beaches that are at risk, but the channel's not being maintained properly ... there's a lot of frustration."

Keistler acknowledged the disappointment, but said that ultimately the corps' responsibility is only to maintain the channel as a whole – not to supply area beaches with sand.

"I understand that, they have an erosion issue. What the public needs to understand is that the funding that we get is to provide safe navigation," he said. "The fact that we're putting sand on the beach, from our standpoint, is a good thing only because we're getting sand out of our channel."

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) July 27, 2011

Violation notice likely for Bald Head Island sand transfer Author: Kelly Poe

The state is investigating Bald Head Island for moving sand without proper permits, and will likely soon issue a violation notice, officials said Wednesday.

N.C. Division of Coastal Management staff discovered the sand being moved from one portion of the beach to another without a permit while inspecting something else.

Before trucking sand across the beach, the Brunswick County village is required to apply for a permit to ensure that precautions are taken to protect any endangered species that might be impacted.

Since Bald Head Island is in sea turtle nesting season and there is a nest in the project area, government officials have requested the work only be done outside of the season.

But since the work being done would prevent erosion, Suzanne Dorsey, executive director of Bald Head Island Conservancy, said the nest doesn't stand a chance if it's not done.

"I've even offered to put an intern out there at all times to make sure that the nest is protect, but the other thing I need to protect that turtle is sand on the beach," she said.

"It is in danger. If nothing is done it will fail. That nest will not survive."

Dorsey said the Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the erosion after it realigned a shipping channel closer to the island, which sits at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

This causes a problem with Coastal Management regulations because they're not prepared to handle problems due to non-natural erosion, Dorsey said.

Village Manager Calvin Peck attributed the situation to a lack of communication.

"We had a misunderstanding as to whether or not we needed a permit," he said.

Bald Head Island was moving the sand to help protect a groin, which is close to separating from the dune line due to the erosion.

Peck said it was understood that permission to move the sand was included in that project, and the village ceased as soon as it learned that it was in violation.

It has since applied for the permit.

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"Our primary objective is restoration of the area," said Coastal Management spokeswoman Michele Walker.

Restoration could involve moving the sand back to its original location along with a potential fine to Bald Head Island.

But because the restoration could involve putting trucks back on the beach, there's a chance the state will just leave it be, Walker said.

The Coastal Resources Commission, which regulates development in the state's 20 coastal counties, will meet Friday morning to consider a request from Bald Head Island to construct a 1,300-foot sandbag fortification, also with the aim of preventing erosion.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) February 13, 2011

Bald Head Island considers Bambi birth control Author: Ken Little

Bald Head Island won’t cull its white-tailed deer herd this year, but it will definitely do so in 2012.

Instead of hiring someone to reduce the deer population with firearms, village officials are considering a dart-administered form of contraception that prevents females from becoming pregnant.

“There has to be some way of taking down the population next year,” Village Manager Calvin Peck said.

The island’s deer population stands at about 180, what Peck calls the “upper limit” for what the Bald Head Island Conservancy considers a viable number of animals. A population above 180 would cause excessive damage to the maritime forest and create health-related hardships on the animals, Peck said.

The “immune-contraception” program developed at N.C. State is still in the exploratory stage but may be well suited to conditions on Bald Head Island. A few outside deer might swim there, but the natives aren’t going anywhere, Peck said.

“They’ve got it good here, and they recognize that,” he said.

Hunting is banned on Bald Head Island, whose affluent residents occupy about 2,000 acres of the 12,000-acre island.

The remainder is set aside as nature preserves, and white-tailed deer have taken full advantage of the situation.

“It’s a healthy population. They’re doing well. They’re very active,” Peck said.

It’s not uncommon for a doe to give birth to twins on the island, an indication of the good forage available there.

The survival rate in eastern North Carolina for deer is about 0.8 fawns per doe, said Robbie Norville, coastal region supervising biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Culling is rare in most sections of the coast, but it becomes necessary when hunting is not allowed, Norville said.

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“There are some gated communities operating under depredation permits and have hunters come in,” he said. That’s the case with Bald Head Island, which conducted six herd culls between 2000 and 2008. The deer population was so excessive in 2000 more than 200 animals were removed from the herd “and the population was still healthy,” Peck said.

Contraceptives in the general deer population have not proven effective, Norville said. “It would only work in a closed setting, like a pen where animals are tightly controlled,” he said. “In an open system where the deer fully move and go there is no delivery method that is effective enough and proficient enough to deliver a contraceptive to each and every deer, and it is highly expensive.” The cost is about $500 per animal, Norville said.

Bald Head Island budgeted money in its current budget for deer culling, but won’t begin the process until 2012, Peck said. The 2008 cull, which took about 90 deer, cost the village $35,000.

The company hired by the village used methods that are illegal for hunters. “They use .22 caliber low-powered rifles on an elevated stand,” near a baited area, and track the deer by night with spotlights, Peck said.

As in most communities, there is opposition to hunting of any type, and others who are vehemently pro-hunting. Whether by deer contraception methods or by firearm, “We will have to do it in January 2012,” Peck said of the herd cull.

If contraceptives are used, Bald Head Island would have to pay $75,000 a year for five years and participate in a study being conducted by N.C. State, Peck said.

In the past, the village has donated venison from the deer culled from the herd to area food banks. If the contraception method is used and an animal is taken by a hunter, the meat is unfit for human consumption, Peck said. All does that are given the contraceptive will receive an ear tag or other identifying marker, he said.

Bald Head island citizens will be surveyed to see what they think about the idea, Peck said. Norville isn’t so sure it would work, even on Bald Head Island’s deer.

“They are excellent swimmers. They freely swim the Intracoastal Waterway and they find these niches and new habitats,” he said. “The only things that work as far as abating the deer population is hunting, sharpshooting and the use of deterrents and exclusionary devices like fencing or netting.”

The state’s deer population is currently estimated at about 1.1 million animals. It’s estimated only about 10,000 deer inhabited North Carolina in 1900. A restocking program involving 4,000 animals between 1940 and 1970 helped restore the population, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

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StarNews (Wilmington, NC) December 29, 2010

Bald Head Island sues feds over beach erosion Author: Shelby Sebens

The village of Bald Head Island filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the Army Corps of Engineers has not lived up to its end of the deal to keep the island safe from nearby dredging.

The 83-page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court alleges the corps has not fulfilled its commitment to protect Bald Head Island from erosion caused by the agency's dredging of the Cape Fear River's shipping channel.

Village Manager Calvin Peck said the issues stem from the start of the project in 2000 when Bald Head officials warned the dredging would negatively impact the island.

“We told them then it wouldn't work, that there were going to be problems,” he said.

Corps spokeswoman Susan Clizbe said the agency has not yet been served with the lawsuit so she could not comment.

Meanwhile, the towns of Caswell Beach and Oak Island planned to file a motion to intervene in the lawsuit, Caswell Beach Mayor Harry Simmons said Wednesday. The towns are not opposing the lawsuit but rather looking for a seat at the table, Simmons said.

“We are, at this point, just keeping an eye on things,” he said.

Simmons said the towns want to make sure that whatever agreement Bald Head Island and the federal government might come to on the channel issue does not negatively impact Caswell and Oak Island's beaches.

“We need to find a solution that resolves it for everybody, not just one community,” he said.

Erosion on Bald Head occurs every time the corps dredges the shipping channel, which was relocated closer to the Brunswick County island a decade ago, the lawsuit alleges.

And the problem was exacerbated in 2009 when the dredged sand wasn't placed back on the island. Instead, it was pumped over to Caswell Beach as part of a sharing agreement, according to the lawsuit.

Some areas lost several hundred feet of beach and dune, and by late summer several homes and at least one street were relying on sandbags to hold back the encroaching waves. Overwashing also was common during storms or higher-than-normal tides.

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The village has its own $17 million sand project, but Peck says that it's not enough and that a lack of funding from the federal government is pouring salt in the wound.

When the state announced earlier this month that it plans to look at improving access to the existing port facilities in Wilmington instead of building a new terminal closer to the mouth of the Cape Fear, officials also said they will look at modifying the alignment of the channel as it passes by Bald Head Island.

Relocating that portion of the channel could help alleviate erosion on the Brunswick County island's beaches.

Simmons agreed something needs to be done to curb the erosion problems on Bald Head Island, but he added a change should not come at the expense of the beaches across the river.

He thinks all the parties can find a middle ground.

“It's going to take a lot of work to find out where that is,” he added. A judge would also have to approve Oak Island and Caswell Beach's motion to intervene.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) November 23, 2009

Project pumping up erosion-hit beaches Author: Gareth McGrath

After enduring nearly nine months of erosion, Bald Head Island's west and south beaches aren't back yet.

But they're back to growing in the right direction. Crews began marshaling equipment on the Brunswick County island in late October and began pumping sand from the Jaybird Shoals in the Cape Fear River on Nov. 1. Three weeks later, homes aren't threatened with potentially falling into the ocean at the next high tide.

"Everyone is very pleased, just wishing it would go faster," said Village Manager Calvin Peck.

Bald Head's beaches began washing away earlier his year when the Army Corps of Engineers began maintenance dredging of the nearby Cape Fear River shipping channel.

Erosion occurs every time the corps dredges the shipping channel, which was relocated closer to the Brunswick County island a decade ago.

But this was the first year that the dredged sand wasn't placed back on the island. Instead, it was pumped over to Caswell Beach across the river's mouth.

That exacerbated the situation, since there was no material to replace what was washing away, and the erosion continued through the summer.

Some areas lost several hundred feet of beach and dune, and by late summer several homes and at least one street were relying on sandbags to hold back the encroaching waves.

Beach overwashing also was common during storms or higher-than-normal tides.

Corps officials have said that they aren't doing anything different this dredging cycle and that it was a buildup of sand on West Beach that made the island "grow" toward the shipping channel.

But Bald Head officials disagree, and Peck said the village is still considering taking legal action against the federal agency.

Worried about the continued threat to exposed homes and infrastructure, island officials decided to fast-forward a $15 million town-funded beach nourishment project.

Bald Head's nourishment is just the first of what will be a busy winter season for dredging companies in Southeastern North Carolina. All three New Hanover County beach towns are scheduled to have their beaches nourished in early 2010.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) August 28, 2009

BALD HEAD ISLAND Storms add urgency to project request Author: Gareth McGrath

As Bald Head Island licks its wounds from Hurricane Bill, village officials are again pressing to start their $17 million beach nourishment project before the normal dredging window opens.

Citing concerns about impacts on nesting sea turtles and fish habitat, federal and state regulators rejected a request earlier this month to move up the start date for the beach-building project from Nov. 15 to Sept. 15.

But that was before Hurricane Bill sent strong swells crashing onto Bald Head's already eroded beaches.

The village has now applied to start work Oct. 15.

Suzanne Dorsey, executive director of the Bald Head Island Conservancy, estimated Bill washed away 30 feet of dune along a stretch of beach more than three football fields long.

The beach area already had lost 150 feet in places, erosion that island officials blame on the dredging of the adjacent Cape Fear River shipping channel.

Village Manager Calvin Peck said the erosion washed away nearly a dozen sandbags along Sandpiper Trail and left seven homes vulnerable to the encroaching Atlantic. The swells also washed away the beach and dunes behind a half-dozen large groins, leaving the structures nonfunctional as beach-stabilization devices.

But Peck said his real concern was what could be in store for the rest of the hurricane season, which runs through November.

"A 400-mile miss caused this sort of damage," Peck said, referring to Bill's track offshore. "The next storm could be devastating."

That could come as soon as this weekend as Tropical Storm Danny approaches the East Coast, with a projected track similar to Bill's.

But regulators could still balk at allowing work on pumping the estimated 2 million cubic yards of sand from Jay Bird Shoals onto the beach because of the same concerns about impacts on flora and fauna while ocean temperatures remain warm.

Several hurricanes, notably Hurricane Hazel in 1954, have struck North Carolina in October.

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A decision on Bald Head's request by the Army Corps of Engineers, which is the lead permitting agency, is expected next week.

News & Observer, The (Raleigh, NC) November 15, 2007

Rising seas worry beach officials Author: Wade Rawlins

Rising sea levels will confront beach communities with complex challenges to remain tourist destinations, and the towns will increasingly have to rely on their own resources when they run into complications or crises, federal officials said.

About 150 local officials and representatives of coastal agencies attended a two-day conference sponsored by the N.C. Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association, a coastal advocacy group, on rising sea levels that are expected to accelerate in coming decades.

"I'm convinced now the future does include sea level rise, and that has to be taken into account," said Calvin Peck, manager of Bald Head Island, which has about 1,100 residences. Peck said beach communities would have to take higher seas into account in planning development near inlets and in flood-prone areas.

"We have not done that in the past," he said.

Scientists predict that rising temperatures from heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere will cause polar ice to melt and seas to rise about 18 inches this century. Seas rose about 1 foot during the 20th century, though it was higher along some parts of North Carolina's coast.

Building up the sand

"All is not lost," said Harry Simmons, mayor of Caswell Beach and executive director of the association. "We have options to deal with rising sea level, certainly in the next few decades."

As more expensive and larger houses have risen on North Carolina beaches, the option many beach communities have sought is to widen their beaches with costly loads of sand, rather than moving the houses away from the advancing ocean. Four coastal towns -- Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Ocean Isle Beach -- are in a long-term federal program that covers much of the costs of replenishing sand.

A number of other beach communities in Dare and other coastal counties are seeking to join that program, but it has become hard to qualify.

Spencer Rogers, a coastal erosion specialist with N.C. Sea Grant, a research and education program, said beach nourishment worked well in some communities with moderate erosion rates and helped protect them from hurricanes.

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"It's made a phenomenal difference here in 42 years," Rogers said of Carolina Beach's nourishment project.

Letting the ocean win

Jeff Williams, a marine geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said replenishing beaches might work for a few decades but isn't a sustainable long-term solution because of the high cost and lack of adequate offshore sand.

"It's wrong to build up expectations that beach nourishment is going to get us out of this bind," Williams said. "It's not."

Williams said communities would have to adapt to rising seas by moving away from the coast.

Debbie Smith, mayor of Ocean Isle Beach and chairwoman of the beach and waterway association, said beach communities need to learn how to adapt to rising sea levels. But she said, "I don't think you're going to get people on the coast to retreat."

Last year, Ocean Isle asked the legislature for an exemption to the state ban on hardened structures on the oceanfront to try to stabilize an eroding inlet. Smith said the town would continue to seek that.

Margaret Davidson, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal Services Center in Charleston, S.C., said communities would have an increasingly difficult time getting federal funds for projects such as replenishing sand on local beaches and dredging inlets.

"The federal debt is rising faster than the sea level," Davidson said.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) November 15, 2006

Bald Head Island finds way to protect its alligators and the public Author: Paul R. Jefferson

You don't have to be up to your neck in alligators before doing something to relieve a dicey or dangerous situation.

But on Bald Head Island, the gators are more than a metaphor.

And if an unwelcome gator drops by your property, you can't takes steps to have it evicted from the island without first consulting the village government and the group that keeps tabs on the island's gator population.

To better coordinate the hows and wheres and when an alligator's presence on property constitutes a public danger, the Bald Head Village Council recently ironed out a three-party agreement to make sure both the gators and the public are adequately protected.

Calvin Peck, village manager, said the island community needed a formal system of notification when alligators are sighted in unusual places. Alligators are commonly found in the island marshes.

"We reached an agreement with the Wildlife Resources Commission, and the (Bald Head Island) Conservancy to contact us next time it happens," Peck said. "The village and the conservancy have to be in agreement before an alligator removal permit is released."

The agreement was deemed necessary after an island homeowner repeatedly spotted an alligator on or near his property. Rather than contacting the conservancy or village officials, the unidentified home-owner dialed up the Wildlife Resources Commission office to dispatch a crew to remove the small gator, which the agency did, to the wilds of the Green Swamp.

That's a no-no, according to Suzanne Dorsey, executive director of the island conservancy.

"When you remove a gator, it upsets the balance of territories that the gators have established. It puts them into new areas, and their behavior can get a little more unpredictable," she said. "The conservancy definitely discourages individuals from doing anything when it comes to alligators."

The conservancy constantly monitors the island's gator population, she said. Based on nighttime "spotlight counts" and daytime observations by conservancy interns on regular gator patrol, Dorsey put the resident gator population at 22. The gators are only counted, not marked or tagged.

Bald Head Island has a resident population of about 250 people year-round, though that number swells tenfold and more in the tourist season.

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In a typical gator encounter, Dorsey said, island residents should inform the conservancy and village authorities. The village holds a state wildlife permit that allows removal of wildlife, such as the annual culling of the island's deer population.

Dorsey said conservancy staff met with and reviewed the gator behavior noticed by the homeowner. "We evaluated and found that it would not be a threat," she said.

Dorsey said the conservancy conducts annual education programs on alligators, especially during the summer months when visitors abound.

"We take a real deliberate approach to alligators, and alligator education. What we do every summer is have a high-energy effort to educate the public about alligators. We have twice- weekly conservancy programs, and our interns take people to the overlook area to answer questions they may have. If we see people do something they shouldn't be doing with the gators, we let them know."

Feeding an alligator is a recipe for danger, Dorsey said. Alligators fed by humans lose their natural fear of humans and begin to look to them for food.

"We've seen some very scary behavior, but it's from people," she said.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) November 14, 2006

Resort village targets deer population Author: By Gareth McGrath

Deer numbers on Bald Head Island appear to be holding steady, with surveys counting roughly the same number of animals running around the ritzy Brunswick County resort island as last year.

But environmentalists and village officials said the four-legged population is still too big for the small island to handle without risking potentially long-term environmental consequences.

That likely means another controlled hunt this winter, with marksmen being hired to thin out the herd.

"We've got to be very conservative about how we approach this," said Suzanne Dorsey, executive director of the Bald Head Island Conservancy, noting the fragility of Bald Head's maritime forest environment.

The island's Village Council is expected to discuss the issue Friday.

Village Manager Calvin Peck said his staff's recommendation would be to seek a special depredation permit from the state, which would allow hunting with restrictions outside of the regular hunting season, to take 100 animals - 60 does and 40 bucks.

"It's a much healthier herd today than it was a number of years ago," he said. "But we need to continue to keep it under control."

Hunting isn't allowed on Bald Head, and an absence of natural predators, coupled with an abundance of tasty landscaping, has created a sort of deer paradise.

According to a 2002 study, the small, 3-square-mile island could sustain a population of around 150 deer.

But biologists estimated more than 500 animals were running around the island by the late 1990s.

That led to several run-ins between deer and golf carts on the automobile-free island and growing health concerns for both Bald Head's four-legged and two-legged residents.

A series of culls, or hunts, since then has helped reduce the deer population, with between 75 and 149 deer shot each year since 2003.

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But the typical deer population in Southeastern North Carolina is about 35 animals per square mile. Experts estimate Bald Head's density before the first controlled hunt was approaching 200 deer per square mile.

Dorsey said a survey by the conservancy this summer estimated the population at 106 deer per square mile, a slight dip from the 114 per square mile estimated in the 2005 survey. But she warned that the count doesn't include fawns, and that preliminary numbers this fall are showing it was a good breeding year.

Subsequently, estimates of the island's deer population are creeping upward.

"We have large bucks and does that signify a healthy population that's reproducing, possibly triplets," Dorsey said.

A survey by a consultant hired by the village also shows deer numbers to be about the same as last year.

Dorsey said the conservancy was willing to help the village explore alternatives to the annual cull, such as shooting does with darts containing semipermanent birth control, if and when the methods are shown to be effective and cost-effective.

"But the risk to the plants and the environment is too high right now to take a chance on something that might not work," she said.

Anthony Snider, manager of the Division of Coastal Management's southern reserve sites, has previously expressed concerns about the deer's impact on the agency's 173-acre maritime forest reserve in the middle of the island, which is a favored haunt for the island's four-legged residents.

With limited scientific data about the island's environment, the conservancy has hired Steven Brewer, a biologist with the University of North Carolina Wilmington, to look at the animal's impact on the island's flora.

"We're trying to back up objectively what the impact of the deer are on the island's maritime habitat, particularly the maritime forest," Dorsey said.

Brewer's study, which is planned to last five years, involves setting up enclosures to protect portions of the island's maritime forest.

The vegetation that takes hold in the enclosures will then be compared to areas nearby that are subject to constant nibbling by deer.

"It's clear they're eating a lot over there and having a significant impact," Brewer said. "But what kind of impact? I don't think we know that yet."

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) December 14, 2005

Carolina Beach town manager quits Author: Gareth McGrath

In a move that many saw as inevitable after last month's election, Carolina Beach Town Manager Calvin Peck resigned Tuesday. The five-member council accepted the resignation just a few minutes after three new members were sworn into office.

All three new officials had questioned Peck's performance during the campaign. The retired Army officer became manager in 1998, after a stint as town administrator in Murfreesboro.

The board also announced Bob Nicholl as interim town manager. He also served as Carolina Beach's temporary manager in the mid-1990s. His first day is Thursday. Mayor Bill Clark, who was sworn into office Tuesday along with Councilmen Alan Gilbert and Jerry Johnson, said Peck accomplished a lot while serving the town for nearly eight years. "Let's hold onto the good things and remember Calvin and his family for that," Clark said.

Unsaid in the mayor's comments was the animosity that rippled through the town as the old town council pursued zoning changes to allow high-rise development in Carolina Beach's central business district.

Although Peck and other town officials work at the behest of the Town Council, many residents saw the town manager as sympathetic to the proposal to reinvigorate the downtown area by allowing high-rise development. The new town officials made repeal of the land-use changes the centerpiece of their campaigns. Peck immediately left Tuesday's meeting after the announcement, which came after the council members held a short closed session, without comment.

Tuesday's meeting came a day after a contentious special meeting called by the old Town Council to protect the town's high-rise projects from meddling by the new council. But the plan backfired after the old council declined to approve granting the Arcadia Group a lease on a town- owned parking lot. The move seriously wounded the viability of the 11-building mixed-use complex.

While the meeting room was again crowded Tuesday, there was no animosity toward the council. "What a difference a day makes," said Gilbert jokingly before the meeting started. He added that he hoped the swearing in of the new council represented a new day of cooperation and openness between town officials and residents.

Clark said he intended to make sure the Town Council represented all interests in the Carolina Beach, including developers. "There's room for development here," he said. "We need the developers."

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) October 14, 2005

Political signs in dispute again Warning issued in Carolina Beach Author: Sherry Jones

Just weeks after Oak Island repealed a portion of its sign ordinance because of claims it was unconstitutional, another town is facing similar charges.

Earlier this month, Carolina Beach notified all candidates running for office in the town, as well as those in Kure Beach, about its sign ordinance, which says political signs cannot be posted until 17 days before the election. This year, that would be Oct. 22 because the election is Nov. 8.

Town officials said they issued the warning because four candidates, including three in Kure Beach, had already violated the town's ordinance. But one of those candidates, Dean Lambeth, who's seeking a spot on the Kure Beach Town Council, is challenging Carolina Beach's ordinance. A letter from his attorney to the town says the law "is almost certainly unconstitutional."

Two other Kure Beach candidates - Tim Fuller, who's running for mayor, and Gary Owen, who's running for the Town Council - had signs in the same location on Dow Road near Ocean Boulevard. Carolina Beach officials said Mayor Dennis Barbour also had violated the sign ordinance when he held a function at the lake and placed dozens of yard signs in the ground there.

Ed Parvin, Carolina Beach's interim planning director, said letters were sent to all candidates as a reminder of the time frame, size, number and location permissible for yard signs.

He said the town typically sends warning letters for the first offense, then starts picking up signs after that. The town could issue civil citations to violators, but Mr. Parvin said it's not worth the effort. By the time the town followed the proper procedure for issuing a fine, the election would be over, he said.

Besides, he said, the warning letters usually do the trick. In this instance, the violators removed their signs immediately.

Mr. Lambeth said he complied with the town's request even though he doesn't agree with the ordinance. He even questions whether the town has authority over the area where his signs were posted.

"We've always put signs there, and there've never been any questions until now," he said. "So, yes, I'm upset."

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According to town officials, Carolina Beach's extra jurisdictional territory includes Dow Road for about 1,000 feet past Ocean Boulevard.

Valita Quattlebaum, the town's spokeswoman, said the ordinance is intended to control clutter. Without it, the signs would be all over the place for a long time, she said.

Carolina Beach Town Manager Calvin Peck said the sign ordinance has been in place since 2000, and the town has received a few comments on it in the past.

"But the issues have always been resolved," he said. "The ordinance is the town's attempt to keep a level playing field. The section on political signs is just one component of the entire sign ordinance. We think it's a different situation from Oak Island."

The issue arose in Oak Island in August when a mayoral candidate handed out magnetic campaign signs. When some appeared on cars, town officials said the signs violated the town's ordinance, which prohibited the display of political signs more than 30 days before an election.

With one Oak Island council member and several constitutional law experts calling the ordinance unconstitutional, the council ultimately decided in September to repeal the section that put a time limit on when signs could be posted.

Mr. Lambeth's attorney, Roger Lee Edwards, maintains that Carolina Beach's ordinance also infringes on free speech rights.

"The posting of signs displaying political messages is a traditional method of speaking and, indeed, communication by signs and posters is virtually pure speech," he wrote in a letter to the town.

Mr. Edwards also cites several free speech rulings and says Mr. Lambeth wishes to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.

"He does not desire to pursue litigation, but be assured that he has the means and the inclination to do so if we are unable to reach agreement on this problem," Mr. Edwards wrote.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) July 5, 2005

Carolina Beach installs surveillance cameras at park, Boardwalk to enhance public safety. And it's not alone: Cameras are everywhere. Author: Sherry Jones

Police installed video surveillance cameras around Chicago and saw its murder rate fall to its lowest level in four decades. Now the cops hope to further cut crime by not only watching, but listening, too.

ON THE WEB: Do you think the Carolina Beach surveillance cameras are a good thing? Tell us at www.StarNewsOnline.com.

You're under video surveillance at ATMs, many grocery stores and malls. And soon you'll be on camera at Carolina Beach.

The southern New Hanover County beach town recently installed video cameras at Freeman Park and the Boardwalk to give police officers a bird's eye view of what's happening in those areas.

"We're doing this for public safety reasons," town spokeswoman Valita Quattlebaum said.

Although the cameras went up about two weeks ago, they aren't operational yet because the town is waiting for electrical service to be hooked up. Mrs. Quattlebaum said the connection should be made "any day now."

At Freeman Park, the cameras will allow officers to see if the clerk there is having a problem with someone who won't pay or is being harassed by a disorderly visitor. The Boardwalk camera also will alert officers if someone is out of control or sick and needs assistance.

Since the town stepped up police patrols at Freeman Park in March, officers have handed out 83 civil citations, ranging from driving on the dunes to having glass containers on the beach. Three people also have been cited for burning the fence that protects the dunes.

Along the Boardwalk, town officials say the most common offenses involve people being drunk or disruptive. Precise numbers for the past six months weren't immediately available, but officials said the number of incidents doubles in the summertime.

The cameras cost about $3,000 each, including installation. Law enforcement officials will be able to view the areas on computer screens at the Carolina Beach Police Department. Mrs. Quattlebaum said the system would allow the town to archive recordings indefinitely, but town officials haven't yet decided how long they want to keep the images.

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The town also plans to install laptops in police cars by the end of the year, and eventually a few officers will even be able to see the images on their cell phones. That will allow them to respond quickly if they see something happening, Mrs. Quattlebaum said.

The cameras use wireless technology - a service available throughout the town since December. Wireless fidelity, commonly called Wi-Fi, allows Internet access without cords and uses radio signals instead of cables to plug into cyberspace.

"The security cameras will enhance our public safety response capability," Town Manager Calvin Peck said. "And this new technology gives us one more tool to use in protecting our citizens and visitors."

Mrs. Quattlebaum noted that only law enforcement officials have access to the system, which requires a password to access and has an encrypted signal.

"This is not the Carolina Beach reality show," she said.

The idea of using surveillance cameras to deter crime and capture criminals in the act is nothing new locally.

And the abundance of surveillance cameras in public places has raised a few eyebrows, especially among civil libertarians and privacy advocates.

"America is fast becoming a surveillance society where everything we do outside of our house is subject to being watched," said Jennifer Rudinger, executive director for the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

She said she sees room for invasion of privacy and misuse at the beach, where someone could use the camera to zoom in on women's body parts, especially when they're wearing bathing suits.

"It's unfortunate to see the proliferation of these spy cams when there's no evidence to suggest that the violation of our privacy is justified," she said.

For instance, United Kingdom governments have installed more than 1.5 million cameras in the past decade in response to terrorist bombings. Although it's estimated that the average Londoner is captured on tape more than 300 times a day, not a single bomber has been caught.

Locally, several school systems have long used cameras to keep an eye on students in areas such as hallways and stairwells. The New Hanover County school system also has cameras in some school buses.

New Hanover Regional Medical Center also has found success with a video surveillance system, using it to ensure safety and protect against liability.

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In addition, the Wilmington Housing Authority provides surveillance in Solomon Towers. Although there's a part-time security guard, residents can view what the camera shows on their television sets.

The housing authority used to have cameras at Creekwood but it stopped using them a couple of years ago because grant money ran out, said Marilyn Edge, director of planning grants and special projects for the housing authority. Those cameras also were vandalized a lot, and the authority didn't have anyone to monitor the stream 24 hours a day, she said.

Despite the prevalence of surveillance cameras used for security, live Web cams have become quite popular for other reasons.

For example, UNCW has three cameras showing different aspects of campus life, including the campus commons and construction of the cultural arts building. The views can be seen online at www.uncw.edu/itsd/cam. Local television stations also have cameras trained on busy roadways to provide traffic information. You can even check out the surfing conditions at Wrightsville Beach via a live Web cam at www.wblivesurf.com.

SOME CAMERAS AROUND TOWN ARE FOR FUN

Despite the prevalence of surveillance cameras used for security, live Web cams have become quite popular for other reasons. For example, UNCW has three cameras showing different aspects of campus life, including the campus commons and construction of the cultural arts building. The views can be seen online at www.uncw.edu/itsd/cam. Local television stations also have cameras trained on busy roadways to provide traffic information. You can even check out the surfing conditions at Wrightsville Beach via a live Web cam at www.wblivesurf.com.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) April 5, 2005

Carolina Beach bought this $40,000 beach rake (below) before finding out whether it could use it. It can't. Author: Sherry Jones

Oops. That was Carolina Beach Town Manager Calvin Peck's response to why the town bought a $40,000 beach rake before finding out whether it could use it. "We erred," he said. "But I had no belief that there would be any problem."

The town has learned it can't get a permit from the N.C. Division of Coastal Management because of concerns the machine could interfere with sea turtle nests and other natural resources. Carolina Beach had hoped to use the rake daily during the tourist season to rid the beach of cigarette butts, animal waste, cans and other trash.

The Coastal Management office rejected the permit request after the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission expressed concerns. But the commission said it would support the permit with certain conditions - conditions Carolina Beach officials say they can't live with. The commission said beach cleaning should be limited to one time, should not be done between April 1 and Nov. 15 to avoid sea turtles and nesting birds, and the machine should be adjusted to pick up only litter, not natural materials, such as seaweed.

"That makes it economically unfeasible to operate the piece of equipment," Mr. Peck said. Another North Carolina town, Oak Island, has received permission to use a beach rake, but Carolina Beach officials said that was because the purpose was different. Oak Island is using the rake to remove rocks from the sand and is doing so only outside the active turtle nesting season, Mr. Peck said.

While Carolina Beach fights the state ruling, it doesn't want the rake to sit around unused. As a result, the town will sell the machine - for the same amount it paid for it - to Myrtle Beach, S.C. Carolina Beach had based its plan on that of the South Carolina town, which had been planning to buy a new rake this year, Mr. Peck said. "So we're not out any money," he said.

Carolina Beach Mayor Dennis Barbour said he was frustrated that many other East Coast states, including Florida and South Carolina, allow the rakes, but North Carolina won't approve the device. "I was really disappointed," he said. "We don't understand why we would be turned down."

Mr. Barbour said the beach rake would have been a good way for the town to maintain its reputation for having a clean beach. For two years in a row, Carolina Beach has been named one of the cleanest beaches in the country by the Clean Beaches Council, a national environmental group focused on sustaining America's beaches.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) May 29, 2004

Carolina Beach saved from tax hike Author: Sherry Jones

A tax increase won't be necessary to sustain this coastal town, according to the latest revenue projections for 2004-05. And most of the Town Council's top priorities will be funded.

Town Manager Calvin Peck had originally called for a 1.5-cent tax rate hike but informed the Town Council earlier this week that he'd received good news from the New Hanover County Tax Department. The town's property tax base has risen to $771 million - up $22 million from a previous estimate. In addition, sales tax collections are expected to rise. As a result, Mr. Peck's budget proposal recommends keeping the tax rate at 38 cents per $100 valuation.

The proposed budget for the 2004-05 fiscal year is just over $6 million. The biggest increase - $400,000 - will come with implementation of a new salary plan, which was chief among the council's priorities. The plan is designed to make sure employees are earning market value and are paid fairly based on their job description. The town manager also has recommended a 2.3 percent cost-of-living raise for all town employees as well as merit pay increases.

Other items in Mr. Peck's proposed budget include replacement of water pipes in the north end of town, purchase of beach sweeper equipment, establishment of a skate park, the Carolina Sands drainage project and road paving in the Wilmington Beach area. The Town Council talked about the beach sweeper idea in detail during a March budget retreat.

Mr. Peck said he borrowed the concept from Myrtle Beach, which uses the equipment to patrol 5 miles of beach. There, the machine goes from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. and covers the area from the sand fence to the water. At the same time, a separate employee uses a machine to empty trashcans along the beach.

Mr. Peck said he views the equipment as a more efficient way for Carolina Beach to keep its beach clean. For instance, right now, the town has three guys in the back of a pickup truck lifting 55-gallon drums all day long, he said.

Carolina Beach is 2.5 miles long, not including the north end. Mr. Peck called the results in Myrtle Beach amazing. "It's nice, fluffy and flat," he said.

Council members seemed sold on the idea immediately. "The quicker the better," Councilman Jack Lynch said.

Mayor Dennis Barbour also noted that the town received an award last year for having a clean beach. "We need to live up to that," he said.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) February 28, 2004

Carolina Beach calls for input Citizens to get chance for say on public safety plan Author: Sherry Jones, Staff Writer

Carolina Beach residents will have two chances to offer input on the proposed creation of a public safety department.

Under the plan, the town's police and fire departments would merge. A public safety director would head the department, with three commanders - police, support services and fire - reporting to that person. The Town Council plans to vote on the issue at its March 9 meeting.

Town Manager Calvin Peck has said the format would improve emergency response times, delay the need for a full-time professional fire department and protect against declines in volunteerism. At the same time, the system would beef up the town's police presence.

Mayor Dennis Barbour said the council will look to the Police Advisory Committee for a recommendation. Mr. Peck presented his proposal to the committee several weeks ago. The committee is made up of a cross-section of residents and business people.

The group will get another look at the plan Monday. The first of the public hearings on the issue will be held during the committee's 7 p.m. meeting in the police training room at the municipal complex, 1121 N. Lake Park Blvd.

Charles Grissom, chairman of the Police Advisory Committee, said he thinks the concept of combining the police and fire departments has merit. "But it does need to be researched more in depth," he said.

More specifically, he said he believes the idea needs to be marketed to residents and employees. "You want the support of everybody," he said.

Mr. Barbour said the public hearings are a good way for residents to get a close look at the proposal. A copy of the organizational chart will be available at the meetings. "We're looking for a lot of public input," he said.

And Mr. Grissom said he's found the Town Council to be "very responsive" to the committee, which will devise its recommendation during Monday's meeting. "This council is one that is really going to work with the people," he said.

The second public hearing will be held during the March 9 Town Council meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers at the municipal complex.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) December 29, 2003

Town residents get Net gain solving problems Author: Sam Scott

Carolina Beach recently opened a direct Internet line by which residents can send town officials requests for help with problems ranging from abandoned vehicles to yard maintenance - and then track progress on solving the problem.

The "BetterPlace" system is available through the town's Web site, Carolina beach.org. It's somewhat hidden on the bottom of the home page.

It allows users to enter a problem or question that is then forwarded to the proper department head.

The new feature promises two improvements in customer service over taking problems over the phone, said Calvin Peck, Carolina Beach town manager.

Users get a reference number they can enter later to track progress, he said. And town workers can send a report back to the person when they're finished.

"It gives us a way to complete the loop," he said.

Town workers have been adjusting to the system in the past two months, said Valita Quattlebaum, town spokeswoman.

The Florida League of Cities produced the service, which is used by about 40 other U.S. municipalities, she said. After a $250 setup fee, it costs the town $75 a month.

She said it would save people time looking for phone numbers, waiting for return calls and transferring between departments.

The system shouldn't inconvenience those without Internet access, Ms. Quattlebaum said. A town worker can still take a problem over the phone or in person and enter the details on the site, she said.

Mr. Peck said he wasn't sure what volume to expect because complaints and requests haven't been closely tracked before. The new system will allow the town to monitor which departments have the most requests.

Improving customer service has become something of a mantra of late among Carolina Beach's town council members. Dennis Barbour, the newly elected mayor, has ranked it among his top goals.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) May 23, 2003

Island of Lights nativity display draws criticism Author: Todd Volkstorf

Religion and public policy may be about to butt heads in Carolina Beach. Someone recently called Town Manager Calvin Peck to complain about a nativity scene displayed at Christmas on public property with other holiday displays by the Island of Lights.

The complainant apparently asked that the scene not be included in future displays. The exact wording of the complaint, the name of the complainant and when the person called are not known. Mr. Peck was away on business Thursday and could not be reached for comment. Town spokeswoman Valita Quattlebaum said Mr. Peck said the caller was anonymous.

A nonprofit organization, the Island of Lights hosts various Pleasure Island activities every year, including a Christmas parade and holiday flotilla. Carolina Beach gave the Island of Lights $2,500, according to the town's 2002-2003 budget.

The nativity scene - donated to the organization by Leila Mae Hunter Bost before her death in 2001 - sat near the front of Carolina Beach Lake during the most recent holiday season. Mrs. Bost was a member of the Island of Lights since 1992.

The nativity scene joined the lighted seashells, candy canes, snowmen, snowflakes and other cheery displays around both Carolina and Kure beaches. "The (Carolina Beach) Town Council has to resolve whether they are going to allow religious displays at the Island of Lights festival," the town's attorney, Al Clyburn, said.

Mayor Ray Rothrock could not be reached by phone Thursday evening.

In the five years Mr. Clyburn has worked for the town, it's the first time he's dealt with such an issue, he said.

If they decide to discuss the complaint, council members may face what has typically been a prickly issue. The New Hanover County school board recently took up a similar controversial issue when members had to decide whether to display the Ten Commandments as a "historical document." The board ultimately decided against the move.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has held that religious symbols may be displayed at a town- or government-sponsored function as long as it is a part of a larger display that includes nonreligious symbols," Mr. Clyburn said. "However, a town or municipal government may not extend such an invitation to one religious group to the exclusion of other religious groups," he said. No one from the Island of Lights could be reached for comment Thursday evening.

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Morning Star (Wilmington, NC) January 25, 2003

Town is unhappy with road patches Author: Sam Scott

Disappointed with subsiding pavement, the town of Carolina Beach wants improvements to its $4.8 million sewer replacement project, Town Manager Calvin Peck said this week.

After replacing miles of aging sewer lines, the town ordered the torn-up roads repaved last year, Mr. Peck said.

Because the damage from the sewer work was so extensive, the town opted to build new surfaces on some roads, he said. For the most part the project went well.

But on Carolina Beach Avenue North, which runs north from the Boardwalk, the road is patchy and has sunk in certain places. The contractor, T.A. Loving Co., has filled the holes, but that has left an unsatisfactory result, Mr. Peck said.

"What we have now is a new road that's been patched," he said. "We don't have a new road. We don't have the product that we were expecting."

Mr. Peck said the town had a meeting with the contractor this week to discuss what needed to be done. In accordance with the contract, the town has retained $400,000 of the amount due, pending acceptance of the project, he said.

He said he was unsure what the solution would be, but he expected a resolution.

"We expect them to live up to their obligations," he said.

Calls to T.A. Loving Co. were not returned.

The project is similar in cost to the ongoing construction of the municipal complex, which will extend town hall, adding a visitors' center and a new home for the town's Police Department.

Originally scheduled for April, that project is now slated for completion in the fall. The delay is not expected to cost the town any more money, Mr. Peck has said.

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Morning Star (Wilmington, NC) September 4, 2002

Carolina Beach hopes hotel boosts Boardwalk area Author: Todd Volkstorf and Gareth McGrath

Work has begun on Pleasure Island's first chain hotel.

Last week crews began demolishing a go-cart track and arcade to make room for the 144-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel. The hotel, which also is expected to have a 250-person conference facility, should be finished by midsummer 2003.

"They told us to get your reservations for the Fourth, 2003," said Calvin Peck, town manager, referring to the Independence Day holiday.

Town officials will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 6 p.m. today at the site, which occupies the southern end of the boardwalk.

Town officials hope the hotel is the catalyst for the long-needed revival of Carolina Beach's Boardwalk area.

"The Marriott will draw a different clientele," said Calvin Peck, town manager. "But it's not about money or class. It's a group of people that might otherwise not have come to Carolina Beach."

Mr. Peck said the hotel shouldn't adversely affect the older motels. People who have come to the mom-and-pop motels for a long time are still going to come, he said.

Local business owners are just as optimistic about the hotel's potential to revitalize the Boardwalk and help put the popular beach resort even more on the national map.

"I think it's good for the town that a major chain is coming in," said Yvonne Allen, a sales assistant at Sterling Craft Mall, which sits across Woody Hewett Avenue from the site. "It's something else that people can relate to."

While the Courtyard represents the first corporate chain hotel in Carolina Beach, two other hotels have expressed interest in building there.

The Holiday Inn Express, which has been eyeing a site at the new Snow's Cut Crossing shopping center, and the Microtel Inn and Suites, which is eyeing property along Lake Park Boulevard.

Mr. Peck, however, said while both companies have conditional use permits, they have yet to apply for building permits.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) August 28, 2001

Carolina Beach working to redirect wastewater Author: Millard K. Ives

The town has begun a yearlong project to ensure storm drains aren't hooked to sewage lines and to prevent groundwater sewage from flowing into the system, said Town Manager Calvin Peck.

The town started the work on Greenville Avenue this month and will work on Spartanburg Avenue this week. Work on Canal Drive and Carolina Beach Avenue North should begin in September. Carolina Beach Avenue North will be converted to a two-way street during the project to help provide better travel.

The project also includes raising part of Canal Drive to help alleviate flooding on its north end.

A wastewater reuse project will pump 100,000 gallons a day of treated sewage for irrigation use so that it's not discharged into the Cape Fear River, Mr. Peck said.

He said the overall project would save residents money on their bill.

"The less sewage we have to treat, the lower residents' bills will be," Mr. Peck said.

Mr. Peck said the project is expected to be completed by Labor Day 2002.

"There will be a lot of detours during this project, and we are asking residents to be patient," he said.

The project is Carolina Beach's $4.8 million attempt to replace old sewer lines and fund the wastewater reuse project. The town received a $3 million grant from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the project. The remaining funds came from a loan, Mr. Peck said.

The overall plan is one of 28 local projects receiving funding that comes from the state's clean water bond program approved by voters in 1998.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) December 21, 2000

Corps gives Carolina Beach Lake a hand Author: Trista Talton

A majority of the money this town needs to improve Carolina Beach Lake is already in the bag.

This year's budget includes $85,000 to purchase a new lake pump, one of the improvements included in a new report from the Army Corps of Engineers. The corps recommends spending roughly $95,000 to $100,000 on the lake. "We suspected that there were problems we need to deal with," said Town Manager Calvin Peck Jr., who had skimmed through the report he received Tuesday. "I don't think anything in here really surprised me a lot. It's not bad news, and it's not totally unexpected."

A study began in June after the town asked the corps to look into methods to reduce lake flooding. The 11-acre lake, which collects runoff from about 560 acres around it, often overflows after heavy rainfalls. "Part of this is a result of some real good things that have happened," Mr. Peck said.

He was referring to the town's growth. Roads, roofs and driveways create more runoff, he said.

One suggested improvement is to replace the lake's eastern pump and to rebuild the western pump, which serves as a backup. "I anticipate replacing the pump this fiscal year," Mr. Peck said.

The report suggests placing remote cameras in less accessible parts of the culvert system between the lake and Myrtle Grove Sound to monitor for possible obstructions to the flow of water. No significant obstruction was found in accessible portions of the system, according to the report. The corps recommends spending $11,000 to replace one of three flapgates, which prevent water from flowing back into the lake after it's pumped out. The flapgate has a broken hinge.

"We've got two of the three things we asked for," Mr. Peck said.

The town's request for a study into how to intercept runoff before it reaches the lake and divert it to Henniger Ditch, which flows into the Cape Fear River, has not been funded. "If we can divert water from this area, that means the pumps don't have to work as hard," Mr. Peck said.

The corps has submitted a request for federal funds to pay for the $15,000 study. The town also has the option of seeking funds through the Planning Assistance to States program, which would split the cost evenly between the town and the federal government.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) September 22, 2000

Inquiry uncovers possible over-billing Author: William Davis

An asphalt company contracted by Carolina Beach to repair its roads may have over-billed the town more than $50,000. The results of an independent investigation by Engineering Services of Garner, and Wilmington accounting firm Pittard, Perry and Crone, shows that both the town and contractor Wallace Asphalt may share the blame for problems with the roadwork. The town announced the completion of the report at a special meeting Thursday night. It will officially release the report today. The report finds numerous problems both with the quality of the road repairs, the way the town handled bids and the amount of oversight given by town employees.

Engineering Services Investigator Gilbert DuBois states that former Public Works Director Ed Lehman, who resigned last month, repeatedly ordered Wallace to hastily patch problem areas to quiet residents' complaints. Since neither the town nor Wallace completely fixed the problems, the patches had to be redone repeatedly. "Patching over several old patches has not improved the actual condition of the road and may have prolonged the sinking of some holes," Mr. DuBois states. Mr. DuBois also faults Mr. Lehman for not checking on Wallace's work. The contractor did the work as he was instructed by Mr. Lehman, the report states, placing some of the fault on the town failing to make clear the quality of work it expected. "Failures to conduct the inspections and ensure the quality of the workmanship have caused problems and duplication of some required work," Mr. DuBois stated.

Town Manager Calvin Peck said he had not read the report, but knew of some of the problems from the summary. The report lists steps the town can take to avoid problems in the future, and Mr. Peck said he intends to implement them. "I think it shows that there were some problems with bidding and oversight on our part," Mr. Peck said.

In the next week, Mr. Peck said, town officials will show the report to the town attorney and see if there is any way to recoup some of the over-billed money. Either way, he said the release of the report "shows the system works," since the town commissioned it to answer resident complaints.

The town commissioned the investigation after Wilmington contractor Jim Glover began comparing invoices from the town to actual work done. In many cases, according to Mr. DuBois, the invoices do not match that work. Out of 57 patches examined, he stated, 19 could not be found. When he attempted to compare Wallace's records with those of the town, Wallace owner Doug Wallace told Mr. DuBois that he lost all of his invoices when his computer crashed. Mr. Lehman could not be reached for comment.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) August 11, 2000

Road repairs were questioned; Probe ending, town's works director resigns Author: William Davis

The public works director of Carolina Beach resigned Monday, a month after a representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency investigated questions about the town's road repairs and two weeks before town officials expect the conclusion of an audit of the problems. In a written statement, Public Works Director Ed Lehman said he quit the job because he was tired of politics and seeing his name in the press. His last day on the job will be Aug. 18.

Town Manager Calvin Peck said that Mr. Lehman was a valued employee. "We will miss him, but understand his reasons," Mr. Peck said. Mr. Lehman's resignation comes amid several complaints about the town's oversight of roadwork.

The town started the investigation after contractor Jim Glover of Advanced Asphalt Applications in Wilmington began checking work sites against repair invoices from contractor Wallace Asphalt. In several locations, he said he found places where it looked like the town had paid for work that had never been done, or was done shoddily. Wallace denied any wrongdoing.

Mr. Peck said the town found problems with the work and has repaired one of the sites pointed out by Mr. Glover. To answer the allegations, Mr. Peck hired Wilmington accounting firm Pittard, Perry and Crone and consultants Engineering Services of Garner to look at all of the work and the invoices from the company. Mr. Peck said he expects the investigation to be complete in the next couple of weeks.

Around a month ago, a representative from FEMA inspected some of the questioned sites, according to Mayor Ray Rothrock. Mr. Rothrock said the inspector requested that the town forward the results of the independent investigation when complete. Some of the road repairs done by Wallace were paid for with FEMA funds, Mr. Peck said. An agent with FEMA's investigative division came to town in response to complaints and met with Mr. Glover and town officials after touring the sites about a month ago. Mr. Peck said he informed the N.C. Division of Emergency Management, FEMA and the State Bureau of Investigation when he commissioned the independent investigation.

Opponents of the town's current government say Mr. Lehman left for other reasons. Ex-mayor Tony Loreti, who was unseated by Mr. Rothrock, said Mr. Lehman told him and his friend Carmine Rotunda on Monday that he was resigning because of the complaints. Mr. Rotunda confirmed the conversation.

Mr. Peck would not comment on Mr. Loreti's recollection. He did note that there was an election coming up in 2001. Mr. Lehman came to work for the town after Hurricane Fran, Mr. Loreti said. Before working for the town, he said, Mr. Lehman worked for hurricane cleanup company T.B. Powell. Page 88 of 93

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) July 1, 2000

CATEGORY 2 MARKERS ON POLES; Carolina Beach ponders installing storm-surge markers Author: William Davis

CAROLINA BEACH - Town Manager Calvin Peck laid the long, blue sign on a conference table before the observers and participants at Wednesday's Carolina Beach Town Council meeting.

As he explained how some state officials want the sign, reading "Category 2 Storm Surge" to be wrapped around telephone poles in flood-prone areas of the island, a member of the audience began to grumble.

Joe Coen, a Carolina Beach businessman and member of the Pleasure Island Merchants Association and the Carolina-Kure Beaches Chamber of Commerce, said the banners would drive away tourists and stop people from buying homes on the island.

If the town needs the banners to mark the potential flood zones, he said, it should use symbols or codes that only government employees can understand.

"We don't have to alert Susie Jones driving down the street so she can say, 'I sure . . . don't want to live in this town,' " Mr. Coen said.

To the N.C. Division of Emergency Management, the whole point of the pole wraps is that anyone can see and understand them, said Tom Hegele, chief information officer for the division.

Officials at Emergency Management envision the wraps placed on poles every one-quarter to half mile in places where they could be easily seen, said Mr. Hegele. He said they would probably be placed at the average height of the storm surge during a Category 2 storm, about 4 feet.

"I think the tourists and residents would like to know" if they are in a flood zone during a hurricane, Mr. Hegele said.

Storm surges are rising waters driven by winds and pressure from hurricanes. Historically, storm surges have killed more people and damaged more property than any other part of a hurricane.

The idea is still in its infancy. The division has approached officials in New Hanover County and Dare County about the pole wraps and got a positive response, Mr. Hegele said.

The division has not yet approached local governments about the pole wraps, Mr. Hegele said, and he has not yet received any local feedback on the project.

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"We don't want to go out there and do something counter to what local folks want," Mr. Hegele said.

Mr. Peck was reluctant to give an opinion about the signs. Conceptually, he said, the idea was a positive step, but he did not want to talk about the signs themselves, other than to say that residents should not expect them in the near future.

"That's not something that's going to go up on the telephone poles of Carolina Beach anytime soon. . . . They're not going to happen, especially not in their existing form," Mr. Peck said.

Mr. Peck said his information about the signs had come from Carolina Power & Light. Kevin Butler of CP&L said the utility has agreed to let the signs go up on their poles, but the final decision about whether they will go up is in the hands of the local governments.

The danger in things like the signs is that they can scare off tourists, said Bridgette DelPizzo of the Carolina- Kure Beaches Chamber of Commerce. She said calling too much attention to the hurricanes hurts business on the island.

"People are just going to start associating the area with hurricanes," said Ms. DelPizzo.

Mr. Hegele said he thought most businesses will want to let their customers know they think enough about their safety to give them information necessary for them to make decisions during a hurricane. He said businesses should be able to turn the markers into a positive for them.

"I think it could really be a marketing tool," Mr. Hegele said.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) April 30, 1999

Carolina Beach sand plan stirs up storm Author: Victoria Cherrie

A dune repair project at Carolina Beach has at least one property owner on edge, but town officials say the work came just in time for a spring storm expected to cause erosion along the coast.

"It's a good thing the sand is there," Town Manager Calvin Peck said. "The berm is doing exactly what it's supposed to do."

Contractors this week finished putting 30,000 cubic yards of sand along a wall of rip-rap - large rocks - at the town's northern tip. The rip-rap was placed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s, before North Carolina banned hard beach-protection structures such as seawalls. The sand berm that covers the rocks is soon to be lined with sand fences and signs directing beachgoers to areas where they can cross over.

Mr. Peck said the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid for the sand to be scraped from streets and yards after Hurricane Bonnie and then sifted of debris so it could be reused.

The sand was put in areas that suffered the most erosion during Hurricane Bonnie as a maintenance measure until the next Corps of Engineers beach renourishment project.

The town recently agreed to pay contractors $90,000 for the work and will be reimbursed at least 95 percent of the expense through an occupancy tax intended to pay for beach renourishment, Mr. Peck said.

But some property owners say the town has wasted money and created a mess.

"The mess they made down here is just crazy," said Freddie Phelps Jr., whose family owns the Carolina Beach Fishing Pier.

Putting sand on top of the rock berm doesn't seem wise, Mr. Phelps said. He said he has already had to remove sand from his parking lot as a result of the town's work.

"Those rocks aren't going nowhere," he said. "That sand is just going to blow off and into the streets again."

Mr. Phelps said adding sand might also be dangerous for people walking on the dune, not realizing there are jagged boulders below.

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Star-News (Wilmington, NC) December 11, 1998

CAROLINA BEACH; Town seeks plan to stop lake floods Author: Bettie Fennell

Carolina Beach officials are seeking some relief for residents whose property and streets flood when the town is deluged with rain.

The Town Council agreed to ask the Army Corps of Engineers to study whether a small flood control project to control the lake on U.S. 421 is feasible and cost-effective.

A study is expected to cost less than $100,000 and would be funded by the corps, said Town Manager Calvin Peck.

While there may be several options, none are inexpensive, officials said.

Last month, Mr. Peck said, town officials met with staff from U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre's office to discuss the issue. Town officials, he said, were told that they needed to make a formal request before the corps could begin.

The lake overflows every time the town has heavy rain, as in a north east er, Mr. Peck said. The lake, he said, is a natural depression and "does what it's supposed to do - collect water."

But when it fills and spills out, private property is damaged. U.S. 421 can also become impassable, an inconvenience for the public and a safety problem for emergency officials and law enforcement, he said.

Property damage has risen over the years, Mr. Peck said, because more people have built around the lake. He doesn't know when the study would begin or what flood control measures the corps would consider.

One option, Mr. Peck said, has been eliminated. Dredging the lake won't work because the level of the groundwater sets the level of the lake. The groundwater level, he said, is high. Regardless of whether the lake is 10 feet or 15 feet deep, the level won't change, he said.

Building a levee to contain the runoff is one option.

But levees will eventually fail, Mr. Peck said. A failure like that would be catastrophic, he said, and much more water would inundate private property at a faster rate.

Besides, he said, most levees aren't very pretty. "There is an aesthetic appeal to the lake now as it exists that we would not want to disturb," Mr. Peck said.

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WRAL.com November 29, 1988

Carolina Beach Continues to Clean Up on Last Day of Hurricane Season Author: Amanda Lamb

CAROLINA BEACH — One of the most active and deadly hurricane seasons in history came to an end Monday. There were 10 hurricanes in 1998 which left a death toll of more than 11,000. But here in North Carolina, we escaped major destruction. In North Carolina, 1998 was the year of Hurricane Bonnie. She wasn't as destructive as Hurricane Fran, but she stayed a long time. She also brought back a lot of bad memories from the storms of 1996. Carolina Beach has spent the last few months digging out from Bonnie. Three months after Hurricane Bonnie pummeled Carolina Beach, the token blue tarps still adorn many damaged homes. But the streets are clear, streets which were covered with 3 feet of sand.

"We're looking to move this out of here onto the beach so we can return to as normal as we can," said Town Manager Calvin Peck.

Sand and water also found a way into people's homes. William Patrick lost everything. "I walked in and looked around and decided there was no point to staying," said Patrick.

But thanks to help from friends and FEMA, his home has been completely restored. "I rebuilt. My landlord was great, and friends helped me clean up," said Patrick.

The town police and fire department was not so fortunate. It must be relocated and rebuilt. After surviving three hurricanes in two years, the people of Carolina Beach are happy when hurricane season ends. Town leaders estimate that it will cost $750,000 to repair the roads and the water and sewer system in Carolina Beach. FEMA should cover the bill, but this time around, FEMA says it is going to be much more prudent about giving money to homeowners who continue to rebuild in flood zones.

This year, we had the most deadly hurricane season in more than two centuries. Fourteen tropical storms, including ten hurricanes, formed in the Atlantic. That's well over the annual average of ten tropical storms, with five or six reaching hurricane strength.

Although the hurricane season officially ended Monday, storms have occurred both earlier and later. The latest recorded hurricane was Dec. 31, 1954. The earliest was March 7, 1908.

Research Compiled by: Keith Knutson and Sadie Klein Colin Baenziger & Associates

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