482-4418
Wednesday, june 2, 2010
WWII vet recalls his 'million
dollar wound,' PAGE IB
50*
Ex-assistant principal files suit
Seeks $25M in damages
By RITCHIE E. STARNES
Editor
A former Edenton-Chow:
an assistant principal has
filed a civil suit alleging that
the school system breached
her employment contract.
She is demanding that the
school system pay her $25
million for damages.
Mary L. Felton alleges in
her May 25th suit that Su
perintendent Allan Smith
transferred her to a non
administrative position as
a guidance counselor - one
that she was not licensed to
hold. Her refusal to acquire
the necessary course work
for the license has subse
quently put her job in jeop
ardy
“My directive that you
sign up for and complete
this course followed a series
of communications and di
rectives to you intended to
assure that you obtain a
license ih your area of as
signment,” Smith wrote in
a May 25 email. “You have
been noncompliant and in
subordinate, and you are
subject to dismissal.”
In addition to an unjust
t
“On or about July 15,2009, the Defendant created a'
(sic)fititicious Director’s title to intentionally deceive
the Plaintiff. This letter (sic) cause emotioned distress
when the Plaintiff realized that she was working in the
capacity of a counselor with the title of a director. ”
Civil suit from Mary Felton
Mary L. Felton's suit alleging breaching of contract
transfer, Felton further ac
cuses the school system of
creating the fictitious title
of director to dupe her into
believing the reassignment
remained in an administra
tive capacity when it was
not. It was later changed to
coordinator by the Board
of Education.
“On or about July 15,
2009, the Defendant created
a (sic) fititicious Director’s
title to intentionally deceive
the Plaintiff,” Felton’s suit
states. “This letter cause
emotional distress when
the Plaintiff realized that
she was working in the ca
pacity of a counselor with
the title of a director.”
Felton admits that her
distress of a derailed ca
reer has led her to miss
time from work. She said
she has used 66 days of sick
leave, followed by another
35 annual leave days that
included recovery from a
car accident.
Felton was originally
hired in 2005 as assistant
principal at'John A. Hol
mes High school. After her
two-year tenure expired,
Felton was awarded a four
year administrative con
tract in 2007.
Felton worked under for
mer principal Bill Moore, -
who was ousted from the
school at the end of the 2009
school year when Smith
See FELTON, 7A
CAC move
prompts
mixed
reactions
By REBECCA BUNCH '
Staff Writer
A meeting to decide if the Chowan Arts
Council will move its gallery downtown is
set to take place Friday CAC leaders hope
Edenton officials will allow the non-profit to
stay in the town-owned municipal building
rent-free as part of an in-kind contribution.
Members of the CAC Board of Directors
will meet with Town Manager Anne-Marie
Knighton to discuss the possibility that
CAC could move into the vacant municipal
building on the waterfront.
Marge Soper, board vice president, said
the group was “elated” about the possibil
ity of moving into the downtown business
district and the new opportunities that it
would present.
At their May 24 meeting, the Town Council
authorized Knighton to hold a conversation
with the group about the possible move.
Several councilmen spoke in favor of the
action.
Councilman Bob Quinn noted that,
“where the Arts Council is currently locat
ed is basically off the beaten path.”
“Edenton is blessed with a lot of talent,”
Quinn added. “This would be an extraordi
nary opportunity to teach arts and crafts.
It’s my feeling that anything we can do, even
if we have to support them for a while, it’s a
worthwhile cost.”
Councilman Sambo Dixon agreed.
“I think we need to use it (building) for
something for the community,” Dixon said.
Dixon said he thought allowing the CAC
move to the site seemed a good use for the
building.
“There’s no real proposal (on the table)
but I’d like to move forward, get Anne-Ma
rie to investigate if that’s (relocation) a pos
sibility,” Dixon added.
See CAC, 4A
Remember the perished
STAFF PHOTO BY RITCHIE STARNES
Chowan County woman pays respect to fallen soldiers during the laying of wreaths at the
Memorial Day service. Read US Navy Capt Joey Tynch’s Memorial Day speech, SB.
Town eyes i
tougher
housing
codes
By REBECCA BUNCH
Staff Writer '.1
The town of Edenton f
is considering how to
strengthen its housing
codes to combat rundown |
and abandoned properties.
One possible action is a
demolition ordinance that
would enable the town
to rid itself of neglected
properties. At issue is how
much the town can legally
do to force those who own
such properties to make
improvements.
If the properties in ques
tion are located inside the
historic district, or 'In a
high crime area where run
down housing is believed
to be contributing to the
problem, legal remedies
are available, according to
attorney Benjamin Gallop.
Gallop offered his legal
advice to town leaders at a
May 24 meeting.
Part of the problem
causing the neighborhood
blight is indifference on the
part of some homeowners,
many of them heirs, said
Town Manager Anne-Ma
rie Knighton.
Knighton said that some
heirs, who live out of town
and have inherited proper
ties, simply ignore letters
from the town attempting
to bring the problem to
their attention.
In one instance, Knighton
said, she spoke with an heir
who told Knighton that she
had no intention of dealing
See PROPERTY, 7A
Poor living conditions concern town leaders
By REBECCA BUNCH
Staff Writer
Concerns about sub
standard living condi
tions in some rental
housing has prompted
the Edenton Town Coun
cil to consider taking ap
propriate action.
That action could
come in the form of
a registry to be estab
©2009 The Chowan Herald
All Rights Reserved
lished by the town. That
registry would contain
the name of anyone in
town that owns rental
property, and where that
property is located. Also
under consideration is a
possible inspection sys
tem that would monitor
the conditions to which
tenants are living.
“We’ve got some hous
es that people should
not even be living in,"
Councilman Steve Biggs
said. “I’m tired of hear
ing about the way some
people are living in this
town. It’s time to do
something.”
Councilman Bob
“Vie’ve got some houses that people
should not even be living in. I'm
tired of hearing about the way
some people are living in this
town. It's time to do something."
■ «
Steve Biggs
Councilman
‘ v’As ;i AikMhi&vs
Quinn agreed.
“The objective (would
be) not only to make our
town a better place, but
to give people a better
way to live,” Quinn said.
Quinn added that the
ownership of rental
property . was a major
source of income for
some in the community,
and that the town need
ed to have a better idea
how many renters cur
rently live in town.
“It’s a big chunk of in
come, and we don’t know
nearly enough about it,”
Quinn said.
Attorney Ben Gal
lop, who is acting as a
consultant for the town
on property-related is
sues, said that he felt
the establishment of a
registry would be legal
but that he needed to re
search the inspections
issue and report back to
the council.
“I think that would be
an area of caution,” Gal
lop said.
Councilman Wil
lis Privott questioned
whether the town would
need to charge a fee to
have its staff conduct in
spections.
Privott pointed
out that any such fee
charged to landlords
would likely be passed
along to their tenants.
“Some of them are hav
ing a hard enough time
paying their rent as it
is,” he said.
Gallop and the town’s
attorney, Hood Ellis, will
bring information back
for discussion and pos- ' jt
sible action during the j|;
council’s July meeting.
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