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WARSAW — A member of the Warsaw Board of Commissioners, Ebony Wills-Wells, announced at the town’s board meeting on Monday that she had received a statement indicating that Mayor A.J. Connors’ employment with a local agriculture company presents a conflict of interest for the town.
Wills-Wells stated that citizens, employees and town contractors have reached out to her about a circulating statement that highlights an ethical issue. She quoted, “Mayor Connors is working for Villari.” Wills-Wells expressed her concern not about whether Connors is working for Villari, but rather about the implications of those claims suggesting Connors is involved with an industry that has already cost the town thousands of dollars.
Earlier in the year, the town of Warsaw identified Villari Food Group as a significant source of the Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant’s organic overload and indicated that the town’s wastewater permit compliance will remain at risk until Villari reduces its organic load.
Wills-Wells pointed out the wastewater discharges and permit violations, raising questions about potential undisclosed discussions between Villari and Connors if the allegations are factual. She added that the alleged concerns were also communicated by the town manager.
“These are all alleged statements, but they are major concerns that can affect our entire town and cost us as an entire board if they are found to be true,” said the commissioner.
Connors did not immediately respond to the allegations made by Wills-Wells, but did bring up the issue as his last item during the mayor’s comments portion of the meeting.
“If I can pose a question to the town attorney, is there a law that I can not work for any particular people in the great state of North Carolina, if I choose to work for them, as mayor?” asked Connors.
“There is not a law affecting that,” Town Attorney Ken Thompson responded.
“I have not broken any laws on working for Villari or any of the other companies I do business with throughout the great state of North Carolina and other parts of the country,” he added.
Connors concluded his response by thanking people for coming to the meeting and asking for a motion to adjourn.
In an interview with the Duplin Journal following the meeting, Connors referred to the allegations as “mudslinging.”
“The reality is that every mayor that has been in this office worked somewhere and had affiliations with somebody,” Connors said. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t vote (on the board) so I can work anywhere that I want to.”
In other business:
Town Manager Lea Turner said a text alert message system will soon be operational, which will allow citizens to sign up for specific town alerts they can choose from. Connors added that two electronic message board signs in town will soon be activated that will display town information and upcoming events.
Turner also said the town is planning to hold a public hearing in September for Community Development Block grants for neighborhood revitalization. She encouraged residents to advise the town if they know anyone who is in need of revitalization work to their home and that might qualify for these grants.
Turner introduced Cedric Brown, a recent graduate from the UNC School of Government, who will be working with the town of Warsaw for a year, thanks to a grant for a lead fellow through the school. Brown, who is originally from Fayetteville, will be working with the town on technological needs and economic development.
Brown told Duplin Journal he was drawn to helping smaller, rural communities reach their potential. He said these areas often are left out of opportunities given to larger communities like Raleigh.
The town is encouraging people to attend the National Night Out event on Sept. 19. Vendors who wish to participate in the event have until Sept. 1 to apply for a space.
