But Laurinburg Councilman Curtis Leak's diatribe against Craig Honeycutt right after council finished honoring the outgoing city manager, was ill-timed and ill-placed.
The District 1 councilman, who represents one of the largest minority communities in the city, said he was bothered that Honeycutt has repeatedly to failed to place a black on the city's management team. The 12-member team, made up mostly of city department heads, helps advise Honeycutt on the day-to-day operation of the city.
When Honeycutt countered that Marcus Smith, who is black, is on the management team, Leak became dismissive of Smith, the city's information technology director.
Leak described Smith as a mere "token" whose only responsibility was managing his cell phone.
Honeycutt 's treatment by Leak was even shabbier.
"Well ... enjoy your plaque," Leak told Honeycutt at one point. "Now let's vote."
Later he expressed thanks to the Alamance County for hiring Honeycutt away from the city.
Why Mayor Matthew Block, who is supposed to be wielding the gavel at council meetings, did not bring the silliness to an end is still a mystery.
Only moments before, Block was saying what an upstanding public servant Honeycutt was. How about standing up for Honeycutt?
If Honeycutt's feelings were not enough of a concern, one would think Leak's reckless critique of Marcus Smith would raise a red flag. Unless the city wants to find itself in court, it may want to curtail labeling some minority employees as tokens as other not.
And for all Leak's sound and fury, what did it accomplish? Nothing.
His fellow council members voted down his motion to place another black — Kenneth Monroe — on the management team. Whatever support Leak may have had, crumbled when it was learned that his complaint had more to do with the fact that he had not hand-picked the black team member.
Maybe Leak's only goal was to show some discourtesy to Honeycutt as he made his way toward the door. If true, the effort may prove to be more of a disservice to Laurinburg as it looks for its next city manager.
The city may be hard pressed to find a prospective administrator willing to be second-guessed at every turn or have staff browbeaten in public.
I disagree, it accomplished ALOT!
It should show all of his "constitutes" (as Mr Leak likes to put it) it's time we going looking for a new representative for a district.
Running someone down just because he has a problem with them is going to cost the citzens of Laurinburg a lot of tax $$$$$$ one day.
Someone is going to sue the city's pants off one day.
If you owned a business and you saw that at a meeting would you located your business here?
Let us not forget that this is not the first time this council member has had feelings in which he has expressed in meetings. I do recall a time when Ret. Chief Malloy was referred to as a name that I will not repeat, by Councilman Leak when things didn't go his way. Yet we stand by and nothing happens. What message is being sent to the public, children, and outsiders? One thing is for sure, it's not the type I would expect from any position, let alone an elected one! Sounds like a grown man who can't have his way so he lashes out.
What needs to be questioned is why did that position have to get filled by a member of one specific race? What ever happened to the best man/woman for the job, for the people? Oh wait, how can I expect that if I can't expect us to hold our elected officials to a higher standard?
We all should appologize to our city manager for the disgrace shown him at the council meeting!
When sports commentator Cossell, Jimmy "The Greek", and Dom Imus made negative remarks, thet were removed from their positions. Remaining city coucil members, what are you going to do about this senseless act? Are you going to stand by and allow Laurinburg to be labled as accepting this act of racism? If you are, be fair and inform the next applicant about this incident so that they do not move their family here for this type of unwarranted ridicule.
Leak has over stepped his bounds and entered into an area that has nothing to do with his public position. He has made it will known the intent of his heart. He should be held accountable like any other public official, with swift and stern punishment. Do not accept any "I am sorry" and "have cried" over my actions. It will be an act of cowardness on the remaining board members to allow him to remain. Stand up for what is right for YOUR city!