Navassa: Financial stress, a resignation letter and a 'very concerned' state treasurer
Continued financial struggles and the recent resignation announcement from a Navassa councilor have state officials worried about the town’s future.
“We’re very concerned about Navassa,” North Carolina state treasurer Dale Folwell said.
At the town’s October council meeting, councilman James Hardy announced his plans to resign his post. His term is set to expire next year.
Hardy’s resignation is effective following the town’s next council meeting on Nov. 17.
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The announcement came just more than three months after Hardy was arrested in July and charged with driving with a revoked license and not stopping for a police officer.
Hardy has served on the town’s council since 2019. Following the resignation of Navassa’s former administrator Claudia Bray in June, Hardy was appointed to serve as the town’s finance officer in the interim. In that role, Hardy handled payroll and the town’s bills.
Multiple attempts by the StarNews to contact Hardy were unanswered.
Navassa’s financial woes date back years, with debt and late audit reports to prove it. Folwell expressed his continued concerns for the town earlier this month, following Hardy’s announcement.
“That’s very concerning to us, because someone has to sign the checks,” Folwell said. “Secondly, and probably more sadly, Navassa has such a great historical importance to Brunswick County and to our state, and the citizens of Navassa deserve to -- when they pay their property taxes in for these essential services -- they deserve to have a government that they’re paying money into that has competency, transparency and good governance.”
During the state’s Local Government Commission meeting this month, Folwell drew attention to Navassa’s trouble and asked staff to ensure town bills would be paid and employees would receive their paychecks despite Hardy’s absence.
Town officials are working to hire a permeant town manager and finance officer, but will likely appoint a new interim finance officer following Hardy’s resignation.
Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter @jameybcross.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: A Navassa councilman is resigning. Here’s what to know.
