What’s going on at Calabash Town Hall?

For the eighth time in seven years Calabash is looking for a new town administrator.

What is going on at Calabash Town Hall? And more importantly, how is the town board of commissioners affecting how its town administrators do business?

Last year, after a lot of community push, town administrator Jeremy Cribb resigned after the board blundered and hired him even though he had lied on his resume. That resulted in changes in the town’s interview and hiring policies and procedures. 

Ten months ago when town administrator Marzy Marziano was hired, the town board was quick to point out how thorough it had been in this hiring decision. The hope for all of us was a good, competent town administrator would come on board to heal some of the wounds caused by the Cribb fiasco.

By all accounts, it appears Marziano was doing just that. However, last week he suddenly resigned from his position.

Marziano says he quit because he felt insulted by some commissioners and said he doesn’t believe he deserves the type of treatment he got from them.

Marziano claims he has been asked not to go into details about his resignation. Mayor Anthony Clemmons said he doesn’t recall any communication such as that, but he and fellow board members have declined to talk about what happened.

Now that Marziano has spoken out publicly, the town board should do the same. When issues such as this one are kept quiet, it stirs the pot for controversy; half-truths and falsehoods ultimately boil out.

The town should publicly address what happened and further address what’s been going on at town hall that makes it difficult for this town to keep a qualified, long-term town administrator.

Why are board members getting involved with town business in a manner that makes the town’s lead employee not want to work for them anymore? Did these same issues play a role in the departure of previous town employees? 

If yes, it must stop.

What are the existing issues at town hall that make it difficult for the town to retain a qualified town administrator? Once the town goes through the next hiring phase, will it soon find itself looking for another new town administrator?

How much time and money is wasted when this town keeps bringing in new administrators who must be trained and educated about town business?

When will the town say enough is enough and changes must be made?

Whatever the problem is at Calabash Town Hall that keeps the revolving door of administrators turning, it needs to be resolved. And the best way to begin that process is to address the public about what is going on and make a commitment to creating an environment that fosters employee longevity, not one that sends administrators running out the door.