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ThE Town of Spring Lake has a new Town Manager
Mayor Ethel Clark announced the selection of Larry Faison as the Manager of the Town of Spring Lake, a community located at the gates of Fort Bragg. He will start on October 1, 2007.
Larry has an extensive background in government spanning more than 15 years of municipal management experience, twice a town manager in North Carolina and Virginia and an Assistant City Manager in Jacksonville, NC. He has particular understanding and familiarity with military communities, having worked around Marine Corp Base Camp LeJeune, since 1996. However his affinity, extends beyond a typical “civilian” working outside the gate, he has over 27 years of active-reserve service in the US Army; presently a Colonel, assigned to the Joint Warfighting Center-Joint Forces Command and is a 2005 Graduate of the US Army War College.
He counts among his successes 24 years of marriage to Cora, and reflected on a few professional challenges, that included multiple Utility Capital projects completed in Kilmarnock VA, and Swansboro, NC, development of a Land Use Ordinance, which most recently encompassed a year long moratorium involving advancing Preservation Strategies for Swansboro’s historic district, partnering efforts between different jurisdictions that lead to the initial formation of water and sewer authority in 1999, and the construction of joint use facility for emergency management-EMS-Fire.
Larry said, “I see tremendous opportunity in Spring Lake, a chance to continue building on past successes and open new channels for greater prosperity that can be enjoyed by our current residents, and businesses and those that will make the future choice to call Spring Lake their home. When asked if he had been here before, Larry said, “well just about every infantryman has been to Bragg in some shape or form, I came to Ft Bragg in 1990, to participate in a 10 week exercise, called “MATC 90” standing for “Mobilized Army Training Command,” which sought to test the 80th Divisions ability to transition onto active duty and execute its mission involving initial entry and advanced soldier training, so ya I’ve been here before!”
His wife, Cora, has invested more than 25 years in the teaching profession, and currently applies her skills as a Learning Disability Teacher, employed by the DODEA School System, Camp LeJeune.
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Press RELEASES
Mayor’s Press Release
July 11, 2007
After a review of the letter from the Cumberland County District Attorney to the Chief District Court Judge regarding the Spring Lake Police Department and after a detailed discussion with the Spring Lake Board of Alderman, I am today appointing an initial review committee consisting of David Smitherman, Interim Town Manager, John Jackson, Town Attorney and myself as Mayor.
I have today directed the Town Manager to start a search for and recommend an expert consultant to immediately conduct an overall review of our law enforcement efforts including all aspects of enforcement, personnel, equipment, policy and procedures. The Board of Aldermen and I, as your elected officials, will insure that no effort is spared to provide public safety services to the citizens of Spring Lake, our visitors and guests within our Town's jurisdiction.
Ongoing discussions with County officials have already commenced. Planning has already started on coordinating temporary joint investigation efforts between the Spring Lake Police Department and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Butler has offered to assist Spring Lake whenever possible to insure that the public's interest is served and that the public's confidence and trust is maintained as to their safety. We will monitor daily the Town's total efforts in providing public safety and law enforcement and provide continuing support to our Police Department.
As soon as an expert consultant is identified, I will ask the Board of Aldermen for their authority to hire and empower the consultant to review, analyze and recommend structure, policy and procedures to fully carryout a successful program of public safety and law enforcement. We will insure that no area is exempt from review and that the public is made aware of our progress in resolving this situation in a timely manner.
Mayor’s Press Release
July 24, 2007
In response to various correspondence issued by the District Attorney and Chief District Court Judge, the Town of Spring Lake is actively attempting to ascertain the validity of actions and opinion that the Spring Lake Police Department should not be investigating certain felony crimes. The Board is resolute in its determination to ensure that the citizens of Spring Lake receive the highest degree of law enforcement service available. The Board is prepared to take any and all necessary action to maintain the confidence of the citizens in the Town’s police force.
The Town desires to commission a third-party assessment to review all aspects of enforcement, personnel, equipment, policy and procedures of the Spring Lake Police Department and recommend changes to ensure that the best available service is provided. At the Board of Aldermen’s July 23, 2007 regular meeting, Interim Town Manager David Smitherman reported that seven (7) proposals were received by consulting firms interested in conducting an assessment of Spring Lake Police Department law enforcement activities. Of these responses, two (2) firms, Cannady Associates of Greensboro and Springsted Incorporated of Virginia Beach, Va., have been chosen for further review and interview prior to awarding a contract. The appointed committee of Interim Manager David Smitherman, Town Attorney John Jackson and I will interview these finalists and award a contract in the coming days.
The Board of Aldermen has instructed Town Attorney John Jackson to continue his investigation into the matter and provide advice as to the steps necessary to receive judicial determination as to the validity of the Chief District Judge’s Memorandum instructing magistrate’s to refrain from the issuance of certain felony warrants to Spring Lake Police Officers. The Board has not discounted the pursuit of litigation to preserve Spring Lake’s right of self governance.
The Town will continue to issue releases as developments warrant in order to keep the citizens of Spring Lake apprised of the Board’s progress investigating the allegations and issues originating from the Cumberland County District Attorney. In the meantime, and as reported in the Fayetteville Observer, citizens should be assured that the Town’s 59% violent crime clearance rate (as compared to the Sheriff’s Department’s 36%) and the police department’s recent success in apprehending a wanted violent criminal within hours of committing an armed robbery show that quality law enforcement is alive and well in Spring Lake.
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