Citing statutory authority and the Local Government Commission’s financial oversight of Spring Lake, State Treasurer Dale Folwell says he will not approve the funds to hire Justine Jones as the new town manager.
Folwell said late last week the primary goal is to save Spring Lake from drowning and return the town to financial health and operational stability, and what he termed new and unsettling information that has come to light about Jones’ past employment history.
Most recently Jones was briefly employed as the town manager of Kenly in nearby Johnston County, and was dismissed there after concerns were raised about her management of the small town.
It has since been learned that Jones also had a rocky employment relationship with Richland County, S.C. After Richland County terminated her employment, Folwell says Jones filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint that was dismissed, and she 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 LGC took control of the town's finances last year after years of mismanagement of taxpayers' dollars.
