Citing statutory authority and the Local Government Commission’s (LGC) financial oversight of Spring Lake, State Treasurer Dale Folwell said as treasurer he will not approve the funds to hire Ms. Justine Jones as the new town manager. The Spring Lake Board of Aldermen voted 3-2 on Monday of this week to hire Jones, one of two finalists for the top administrative position in the Cumberland County town. Most recently she was briefly employed as the town manager of Kenly in nearby Johnston County. She was dismissed there after concerns were raised about her management of the small town of 1,520. Spring Lake has a population of 11,600, which is more than seven times the size of Kenly.
It has since been learned that Jones also had a rocky employment relationship with Richland County, S.C. After Richland County terminated her employment, Jones filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint that was dismissed, and then sued the county. Treasurer Folwell said he does not approve the hiring of Jones out of concern over the potential for legal and financial liabilities and potential adverse impact on town morale. “The town does not need a distraction from the important work they are doing to return the town to fiscal health,” he said.