Town expects to hire interim manager soon
The Town of Tryon is currently without a manager as town council terminated Justin Hembree’s employment during an emergency meeting Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Mayor Pro-tem Roy Miller said the new town board wanted to go in a new direction.
Miller also said the town plans to have an interim manager employed within a week to 10 days.
The legality of the emergency meeting was questioned by the Bulletin, because no notice was given.
According to town attorney Bailey Nager, the town can hold an emergency meeting as long as everyone on council is aware of the meeting.
No explanation was given as to what the emergency was that caused the meeting to be called.
Attending the meeting were Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples and council members Miller and George Baker. Baker was sworn into office in December, replacing former councilman Austin Chapman, who chose not to seek re-election last year.
Councilmen Doug Arbogast and Wim Woody were not present at the emergency meeting, according to Nager.
Hembree has been with the town for three years. The town hired Hembree in January 2009 as an interim manager and hired him as the permanent manager in June 2009.
Prior to Hembree, Tryon’s town manager was Dr. Jack Miller, who stayed only a few months prior to resigning. Miller replaced Jim Fatland, who served as Tryon’s manager for about five years until he resigned in December 2007.
Prior to Hembree’s employment with Tryon, he served as an assistant Henderson County manager.