Longtime city manager to leave Kinston – Neuse News

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His hiring

Sears took office at the Town of Kinston on November 2, 2011, replacing Interim City Manager Bill Ellis; Ellis was in the interim position following the move of former city manager Scott Stevens to Goldsboro to become that city manager.

About 40 contestants tossed their hats in the ring after Stevens resigned in 2011; the then mayor – now Neuse News publisher and owner BJ Murphy – said he relied heavily on the city attorney and a subcommittee that had been formed to narrow down the candidates .

When Sears was hired, final interviews for the roughly four candidates took place outside of town hall, Murphy said.

“Tony really stood out,” Murphy said. “He was really young… and really daring, it shows. He had worked on very large water and sewer projects at the time.

“His daring stood out, his experience stood out and his ability to manage a budget and an organization stood out. The culture he had created in previous communities, we wanted to bring that culture to our town hall, our public services, our police department and our fire stations.

Murphy continued, “On paper he wasn’t in the top two contenders. But when you first met him, however, he absolutely stood out.

Murphy has had a unique relationship over the years with Sears; Not only did the former mayor hire Sears, but when Murphy stepped down in 2017, he covered Sears and the city with Neuse News.

“From a professional standpoint, I can say he has always been very respectful, very honest, very open and very straightforward,” Murphy said of Sears. “Most importantly, he was very fair to us and to the other media.”

Sears, who was Randleman’s city manager before coming to Lenoir County, said he was intrigued by the possibility of coming to Kinston when he interviewed Murphy and city council in 2011.

“I was hoping they would give me the keys; for some reason they thought I was a good fit for (Kinston) and I was grateful for it, ”Sears said. “I can’t be grateful enough for the opportunity they have given me here.”

Sears said before coming here that he knew Kinston – and other towns in eastern North Carolina for that matter – were facing economic challenges and flooding, but that he was delighted to rise to the challenge when he accepted the position.

“I’m not sure who coined the phrase ‘Kinston Tough’, but it’s definitely a mindset for this community,” Sears said. “When you get here and immerse yourself in it, you can’t help but get involved in this community. “

Achievements

Sears said he’s proud of everything Kinston has accomplished during his tenure in the City Manager’s office, but there are a few things that stand out – lowering electricity rates and improving electrical infrastructure. of the city for the residents of the city is one and work for the employees of the city. health insurance is another.

As for the latter, he said: “Although the budget figure has stabilized – although that’s not what matters to me – the advantage that we now offer our employees with Teladoc is significant. for me. In the town of Kinston we can’t always give raises, but it was something we could do that was of great value to our employees.

Sears – along with Murphy and Ellis – was also integral to the process of bringing the Down East Wood Ducks to Kinston in 2017; the city was deprived of professional baseball after the Kinston Indians left in 2011.

“It was such a positive economic impact for the (Wood Ducks) to come here, but I think Bill Ellis, BJ and City Council had a lot more to do with it,” Sears said. “They did a lot more big jobs and I was just the tech to put everything in place.”

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