Randell Woodruff Hired to be Beaufort County's Next County Manager | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Randell Woodruff, currently the Camden County Manager, has been hired to be Beaufort County's next county manager. At the July 5, 2011, General Meeting, by a vote of 6 to 1, with Commissioner Jay McRoy casting the lone dissenting vote, the Beaufort County Commissioners appointed the 54-year-old executive to take over the reins from Interim County Manager Jim Chrisman.

    Beaufort County's Chief Finance Officer Jim Chrisman has served as the interim county manager since former County Manager Paul Spruill left the chief executive position on June 24, 2011, to become the new CEO of Tideland EMC. Jim Chrisman, who did not apply for the position, will return to his prior position as Beaufort County's CFO once Mr. Woodruff assumes the position of manager on September 5, 2011.

    Randell Woodruff commented to this contributor, "I look forward to joining the community and serving the county commissioners, who serve the people of Beaufort County. Like Camden County, Beaufort County is a beautiful part of the world, and I would love nothing more than to finish out my career as a member of your little piece of Eden."

    Mr. Woodruff will be paid an annual salary of $110,000 with basically the same contract, which provides for some additional stipend and loads of responsibility, as the one in force with former County Manager Paul Spruill.

    At the bottom of this article is a copy of that yet-to-be-ratified contract with Randell Woodruff. Just below is a short bio of the next Beaufort County Manager.


Randell K. Woodruff Bio
    Randell K. Woodruff is currently the County Manager of Camden County Unified Government located in Northeastern North Carolina having joined the County in December of 2003. During his tenure in Camden his work has been focused on infrastructure development in the following areas: developing a new wastewater system, expansion of the capacity of the reverse osmosis water treatment plant, acquiring funding for the extension of wastewater into the South Mills Village area, the extension of water and wastewater lines to serve the site of the new County Eco-Park along US17 in Northern Camden, development of the Eco-Park, and the construction of a new elementary school. Additionally he has been heavily involved in the County's efforts to keep the Navy from locating an OLF in Camden County, the discussion of and adoption of Unified Government in the County during 2006, the strengthening of the County's financial position, and the creation of a new economic development program to grow the tax base and create new jobs.

    Prior to coming to Camden, Woodruff worked in Sanford, North Carolina for Lee County as a Department Head for eight years overseeing the Department of Youth & Family Services. During the last three years he worked in a supportive role assisting the County Manager with various projects related to County operations. In Lee County, Woodruff worked under the supervision of Manager William Cowan.

    Previously he worked for the North Carolina Division of Adult Probation & Parole in Lee County, North Carolina for approximately twelve years as the Chief Probation Officer (nearly four years), and as an Adult Probation Officer (for seven years).

    In May of 1983 he earned a B. A. in Political Science from Atlantic Christian College (Barton College) in Wilson, North Carolina. Over the years he has completed numerous management training programs including the County Government Administration Program at UNC School of Government in Chapel Hill and the Basic Public Personnel Law & Administration Program, as well as the UVA Senior Executive Program in Charlottesville, Virginia. Currently he is enrolled in the MPA Program at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia having completed seven of thirteen required graduate courses in the program.

    Woodruff was active in the Kiwanis Club of Sanford serving as President in 1999-2000, and is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Elizabeth City, NC. Additionally he currently participates in the Camden Economic Development Commission, the Pasquotank-Camden EMS Board, the Pasquotank-Camden Solid Waste Commission, the Camden Senior Services Board and the Albemarle Regional Jail Commission.


Beaufort County / Randell K. Woodruff Proposed Contract

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
By and Between The County of Beaufort and Randell K. Woodruff

THIS AGREEMENT, made by public action of the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners on the 5th day of July 2011, but not effective until the 5th day of September 2011, by and between the County of Beaufort, State of North Carolina, hereinafter called "Employer," and Randell K. Woodruff, hereinafter called "Employee," both of whom understand as follows:

WITNESSETH:

   WHEREAS, the governing board of the Employer County will appoint the Employee on the 5th day of July 2011 as County Manager of the County of Beaufort to begin a four-year term of employment under this agreement effective on the 5th day of September 2011;

    WHEREAS, the Employee accepts the appointment of County Manager under the condition that Employer and Employee execute this work agreement after the Board's public action to approve the agreement on the 5th day of July 2011 while also specifying a start date for the new agreement of the 5th day of September 2011;

    WHEREAS, the Employer desires to enter a work agreement, employ the services of said Employee as County Manager of the County of Beaufort, assign him powers and duties as provided by NCGS Section 153A-82, and specify a start date for the new agreement of the 5th day of September 2011;

    WHEREAS, the Employer also desires to provide certain benefits, establish certain conditions of employment, and set working conditions of said Employee; and

    WHEREAS, the Employee and Employer agree that the appointment of the Employee will be subject to the conditions set forth herein during the term of this new agreement; and

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree to:

Section 1: Term and Residency
    The Employee will reside within the County during the term of the new agreement and agrees to remain in the exclusive employ of the Employer for the term of the 5th day of September 2011 to the 5th day of September 2015 provided that the Employee neither accept other employment nor become employed by any other employer until:
(1) Termination by the Board, which may occur at any time, but subject to the provisions set forth in Section 2, paragraphs A and B of this agreement; or
(2) Resignation by the Employee, which may occur at any time, but subject to the provisions set forth in Section 3 of this agreement.
Any extension, renegotiation, or expiration that either party desires to implement at the end of the term set out in the current agreement shall be signed by both parties at least three (3) months prior to the expiration of the current agreement (currently defined as the 5th day of June, 2015). Without such three (3) month notice the existing agreement shall be extended for successive periods of six (6) months until both parties have complied with the three (3) month notice.

Section 2: Termination and Severance Pay

A. In the event a majority of the Board takes action to terminate the employment of the Employee during such time the Employee is willing and able to perform his/her duties under this agreement, then the Employer agrees to pay the Employee a lump sum cash payment upon such termination equivalent to the aggregate of the following:

(1) Four Months of employee's monthly salary as measured on the day of termination and associated retirement paid into the retirement system
(2) Four Months of employee's monthly supplemental retirement contribution as measured by the formula specified in Section 14 of this employment agreement
(3) 100 percent of unused vacation at the current salary rate and associated retirement paid into the retirement system
(4) 100 percent of the cost of six months of medical coverage for Employee and family under the County's current insurance policy

B. In the event the Employer at any time during the term of this agreement reduces the salary or other financial benefits of the Employee in a greater percentage than an applicable across-the-board reduction for all employees of the Employer, or in the event the Employer refuses, following written notice, to comply with any other provision benefiting the Employee herein, or the Employee resigns following a suggestion or threat, whether formal or informal, by the Board that he resign, then, in any of these events, the Employee will be deemed to have been "terminated" at the date of such reduction in benefits, such suggestion or threat, or such refusal to comply within the meaning and context of the herein severance pay provision.

C. If the Employee is terminated and the Board refuses to comply within the meaning and context of any portion of what is expressed within the said severance pay provision, the Board understands such action constitutes a violation of this portion of this agreement and the Employee may choose whether or not to test this agreement in a court of law.

Section 3: Resignation

In the event the Employee voluntarily resigns his position with the Employer, he shall give the Employer at least sixty (60) days notice in advance of his separation date and up to thirty (30) hours of part-time service spread among no greater than ten (10) working days unless the parties agree otherwise.

Section 4: Suspension

Employer may suspend the Employee with full pay and benefits at any time during the term of this agreement, but only if:

A majority of the Board votes to suspend the Employee after the Employee is given written notice setting forth the reasons for his suspension ten (10) days prior to a hearing before the Board where he is allowed to answer such charges.

Section 5: Disability

If the Employee is permanently disabled or is otherwise unable to perform his duties because of sickness, accident, injury, or health for a period of four successive weeks beyond sick leave accrued, the Employer shall have the option to terminate this agreement, subject to the severance pay requirements of Section 2, paragraph A.

Section 6: Salary

The Employer agrees to pay the Employee for his services rendered pursuant hereto an annual base salary of $110,000 or a monthly salary of $9,166.66 in installments at the same time other employees of the Employer are paid. In addition, the Employer agrees that said salary shall increase annually at a rate consistent with increases applied to the County's other employees. Should the Employee complete an MPA program and Old Dominion University or transfer credits received and complete the same degree at any other accredited University, the Employer agrees that the Employee shall automatically receive an increase of $5,000 in his salary on the day he receives said degree. Annual review of Employee performance shall be conducted each year within the month of June ahead of any normally scheduled increase in the Employee's compensation consistent with increases applied to the County's other employees which will generally take place on the subsequent date of July 1st immediately following the June evaluation.

Section 7: Performance Evaluation

A. The Chairman shall provide the Employee with a summary of the findings of the Board and schedule an adequate opportunity for the Employee to discuss his evaluation with the Board at least once annually in the month of June as discussed in Section 6 immediately above.

B. The Board shall not only discuss the performance of the Employee during the annual evaluation process, but the Board shall also discuss the performance of the County's Finance Officer. The Employee (County Manager) shall be held accountable for his own performance as well as that of the Chief Financial Officer.

C. In effecting the provisions of this Section, the Board and Employee mutually agree to abide by the provisions of this agreement and applicable laws.

Section 8: Automobile

The Employer recognizes that the Employee travels often on behalf of the Employer and encourages use of his personal vehicle while exercising his responsibilities and, as a result, will reimburse the Employee for these expenses at a flat rate of $500 per month for use of his vehicle. Other travel expenses will be reimbursed to the Employee only upon prior approval of the Employer. Other travel expenses may include but are not limited to per diem rate for meals, special parking fees, special cab fare or train fare fees, hotel expenses, and or airline fees.

Section 9: Retirement Benefit, Vacation, Sick, Holiday Leave, Insurance and 401K

The Employee shall be entitled to the same transfer and accrual policies for retirement benefits, vacation leave, sick leave, holiday leave, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance and 401K contributions at the same rates and benefits as other general employees of the Employer.

Section 10: Professional Development, Dues and Subscriptions

Employer agrees to pay on a reimbursement basis a sum not to exceed $10,000 over a period of four (4) years or as necessary for full tuition reimbursement of Employee provided Employee is seeking tuition reimbursement in order to further the credits he has already achieved towards his Masters in Public Administration and provided Employee completes his Masters in Public Administration on or before December 30, 2015. Should Employee fail to complete his Masters in Public Administration on or before this date, Employee shall refund all tuition reimbursements previously approved. Employer also agrees to budget for and pay for professional dues and subscriptions of Employee necessary for his continuation and full participation in national, regional, state, and local associations and organizations necessary and desirable for continuing professional participation, growth, and advancement for the good of the Employer. Employer also agrees to reimburse Employee for tuition and non-travel expenses to certain professional conferences, short courses, institutes and seminars with prior approval from the Employer. Examples include but are not limited to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Conferences, the Winter and Summer City/County Management Conferences, and such other national, regional, state and local government groups and committees thereof which the Employer serves as a member.

Section 11: Membership in Civic and Community Organizations

The Employee is authorized to become a member of local, civic, and community organizations for which the Employer shall pay all expenses. The Employee shall seek approval of any Organization from the Board before seeking reimbursement of membership expenses.
Section 12: Indemnification
In addition to that required under state and local law, the Employer shall defend, save harmless, and indemnify the Employee against any tort, professional liability claim, demand, or other legal action; whether groundless or otherwise, arising out of an alleged act or omission occurring in the performance of the Employee's duties as County Manager. The Employer will compromise and settle any such claim or suit and pay the amount of any settlement or judgment rendered thereon.

Section 13: Bonding
The Employer shall bear the full cost of any fidelity or other bonds required of the Employee under any law or ordinance.

Section 14: Other Terms and Conditions of Employment
A. The Employer, in consultation with the Employee shall fix any such other terms and conditions of employment, as it may determine from time to time, relating to the performance of the Employee, provided such terms and conditions are not inconsistent with or in conflict with the provisions of this agreement, County Ordinances, or any law.

Section 15: Notices
Notices pursuant to this agreement shall be given by deposit in the custody of the United States Postal Service, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or delivered in person in the same manner as is applicable to civil judicial practice: Randell K. Woodruff, 121 West Third Street, Washington, NC, 27889 until a change of address is provided.

Section 16: General Provisions
A. The text herein shall constitute the entire agreement between parties.
B. This agreement shall be binding upon the heirs at law and executors of the Employee.
C. This agreement shall become effective commencing the fifth day of September 2011.
D. If any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this agreement is held unconstitutional, invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this contract or portion thereof, shall be deemed severable, shall not be affected, and shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the County of Beaufort has caused this agreement to be signed and executed in its behalf by its Chairman, and duly attested by its Clerk, and the Employee has signed and executed this agreement, both in duplicate, immediately following a properly scheduled regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners and where the Board (a) discussed the agreement in open session and (b) approved the agreement by a vote of _______ on this the 5th day of July, 2011.

    ___     _________________ Jerry Langley, Chairman Date Randell K. Woodruff Date



ATTEST: ____________________________
Sharon Singleton, Clerk to the Board

THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN PREAUDITED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES TO DETERMINE THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY OF THE COUNTY TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT.
    ___________________________________
    Jim Chrisman, Assistant County Manager &
    Finance Officer