Elissa Yount: Least We Forget


“I don’t think Smithfield is going to get beyond these happenings until there’s a full disclosure…then we can heal and move on.”

This quote is from town councilman Emery Ashley about Smithfield’s dealings with Eric Williams, former manager in Henderson. Maybe our city needs to take a page out of Smithfield’s playbook and ask the SBI to investigate the problems Williams’ had in Henderson. What could be wrong with setting the record straight and clearly seeing the legacy he left?

Smithfield was smart enough to quickly fire Williams for his performance which, it has been disclosed, included Williams clocking 100 hours of vacation time, 32 hours of sick pay and eight hours of regular pay for $6,722 for a week’s worth for which he would have normally earned $1,912. Williams also charged the city about $470 in dry cleaning in his relatively short tenure with Smithfield. The facts along with other questions here were brought out in a story in the News & Observer on March 25, 2013.

Pay raises for city employees were also brought into question. “In at least one case, an employee’s record reflected work that would have occupied 20 hours daily, seven days a week.” There was a notation on three pay-raise forms containing the phrase “increase per Mgr. and approved by Mayor to key in.” Their Mayor denies giving authority for this

What a field day investigators would have in Henderson if there were a thorough investigation here and people were put under oath. Maybe then all the New Direction people in Henderson who thought it was disgraceful not to renew William’s contract would have to face harsh realities. Others know the realities and are glad for them not to be disclosed as they think they have covered their tracks. Many people have made a lot of money off the poor tay-payers in Henderson. Williams’ lack of management, and that is putting it very graciously, cost this City far more than the $1.8 in Embassy spending. A full accounting and disclosure may be coming to Smithfield and Smithfield attorney Jack O’Hale is to be commended for looking after Smithfield’s public trust. It is just sad that no one in authority in Henderson has had the gumption to do it and we tax-payers continue to pay the price.