Warsaw officials clash over ethics, authority

The board debated recusals, planning board appointments and welcomed a new police chief
WARSAW — The Warsaw town hall meeting on Jan. 12 opened with a discussion about ethics, conflicts of interest, and adherence to proper procedures.
The three-hour long session began with Mayor Wesley Boykin emphasizing the importance of reading ethics requirements into the record, citing a violation at a prior meeting. A disagreement arose over whether Commissioner Scotty Smith had improperly voted on his brother’s appointment to the ABC Board.

Tensions escalated as commissioners debated events from the previous meeting, referencing livestream footage, official minutes and personal recollections. The mayor repeatedly asserted his authority as presiding officer, reminding members they must be recognized before speaking and apologized to the public for the contentious exchange. 

The board then turned to approval of meeting minutes, with Boykin requesting a delay due to errors and omissions. Concerns were raised about missing statements and the legal importance of minutes as the official historical record. Staff acknowledged that while minutes are not verbatim, some typos and incomplete statements warranted correction before approval.

Additional debate arose over public comment procedures. Commissioner Jack Hawes insisted that the sign-up cutoff remain at 6 p.m., a position seconded by Commissioner Cheryl Smith. Resident Marzella Morrisey raised concerns about town governance, use of town facilities and allocation of resources. 

She noted that she tried to contact the mayor and realized that there was no telephone or email address for him on the website, and when she went to the mayor’s office at the town hall she found out it was no longer the mayor’s office. (See the full story on this)

She also questioned why former Mayor A.J. Connors was hired as police chaplain.

“I understand he has an office in the police area. And if things are that serious that we need a chaplain why we don’t have a jail or a cell down there. Our policemen should use the employee assistance program if they need a chaplain,” said Morrisey. “I want to know why does he have an office and is he paid a salary, because we speak of not having money at all.”

Morrisey provided each member of the board with a copy of the memo requesting to make it part of the minutes.

“I would like for these questions to be answered — not only to me. You can respond back to the citizens,” she said. Boykin asked the town clerk to consider that memo as a Freedom of Information Act request and suggested the town lawyer may want to follow up.

Town Manager Lea Turner said they need someone to serve on the Eastern Carolina Council, currently Commissioner Scotty Smith serves as the town representative.

“I’ve been doing it for a while, and I really don’t have the time at this point in my life where I can continue to put the time into it,” he said. Willis-Wells and Cheryl Smith volunteered to serve. Hawes moved to have Smith serve on the board and was approved.

Boykin was appointed to serve in the Eastern Carolina Council Rural Transportation Planning Organization and the Duplin County Transportation Committee. The board appointed Commissioner Ebony Willis-Wells to serve alongside Boykin. 

A significant portion of the meeting focused on vacancies and reappointments to the Warsaw Planning Board. Discussion centered on statutory requirements for in-town versus ETJ representation and the appointment process. Boykin exercised his authority under the town’s code of ordinances to appoint two non-voting, ex officio members, selecting Annise Best. Commissioner Hawes questioned the mayor’s authority in the town’s council–manager government.

“The mayor’s position is only ceremonial,” he said. The debate over procedural authority and ordinance interpretation concluded with unresolved tension, though Boykin clarified that the provisions remain in effect.

The board also discussed utility policies, particularly water and sewer billing noting that some industrial users exceeded capacity, affecting surcharge calculations. The policy was tabled for further review. Questions regarding contracts and bidding processes were raised, with Boykin noting that contracts using town funds are public record unless protected by statute. He also mentioned that a requested list of contracts had not yet been received from the town manager.

Warsaw officially welcomed Darius Jacobs Bentley as its new police chief. Bentley, who brings a combination of law enforcement and managerial experience, emphasized transparency, accountability, and community engagement as key priorities for his leadership. 

“Being a police chief is less about being a police officer and more about operations and making sure the public is aware of what’s going on. Accountability, trust, transparency… those are the things that I know how to do,” said Bentley.

The new chief outlined immediate changes, including enforcement of the chain of command, increased community policing, and clear policies against harassment. Bentley encouraged board members and residents to participate in ride-alongs to see the department’s operations firsthand. 

“We are going to be transparent. We are going to be accountable. We will be integral, and we will show you what the police department is supposed to look like,” he said. 

Bentley acknowledged current staffing challenges, noting that the department is “short about six positions” and is in a rebuild stage, stressing the importance of seasoned and accountable officers. He emphasized restoring trust and strengthening community relationships. 

“Doing the right thing when nobody’s looking, when nobody’s watching…That’s real integrity,” said Bentley.