In Oriental, small-town politics and budgetary constraints are creating turmoil that's led to the resignation of two high-profile town employees.
For months, some town commissioners have been directly asking town employees about their day-to-day work as part of efforts to identify fraud and misspending – only to report none at its February meeting. The extent of the questioning has led some to accuse commissioners of micromanaging.
Allison DeWeese is a reporter at TownDock.net, who has been following the story. She spoke with the town's Public Works Director Andrew Cox after he resigned.
"The final straw, he said, was basically commissioners questioning why he was taking his son to school, and he really felt that just the work and everything he's given was being unappreciated," she said, "If he is a salaried person, couldn't take 30 minutes to drive his son to and from school in the morning."
The resignation comes as the town is about to begin a $5 million upgrade to its water system and continue debate over a controversial financial liaison position on the board that'll bypass the town manager and regularly review finances.
