Gipson recommends GM be fired

After coming out of executive session Feb. 4, Holly Springs Mayor Sharon Gipson said she had recommended that Wayne Jones, general manager of the Holly Springs Utility Department be terminated from his position.

He has served as general manager since May 2024.

Board discussion relative to her recommendation included remarks by Gipson, Ward 2 alderman Andre Jones, Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather and precautionary statements by board attorney John Keith Perry Jr.

Two aldermen, Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain and Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel, were not in attendance at the meeting.

“No official action was taken, however we did make a recommendation. I did recommend, based on recent circumstances, that Mr. Wayne Jones, the general manager of the utility department, be terminated,” Gipson said.

The board took no action in executive session on her request for a motion, she said.

Gipson asked that some statements made in executive session by aldermen be read aloud by the city clerk.

Aldermen Jones asked to make his statements himself.

City clerk Jerrica Jones read Merriweather’s statements made in executive session.

“Um, the honorable Merriweather would like the record to reflect that since day one with the general manager it seems as though the odds were against him. That before….”

Perry interrupted.

“Hold on. Before you read further, if it’s executive session … I don’t think the actual commentary is supposed to be read. But if they want to speak, themselves…, Perry said.

“So, what I said in terms of recommendations with Mr. Jones, I’ll say it again. I’ll say it over and over,” Merriweather said. “Since Mr. Jones has been here, it seems the odds have been stacked against him. I don’t think he has been given the proper time or training.

“Our new HR manager is here, so with everything else as stated in the handbook and as stated for corrective actions, I think he needs to be given that opportunity, that we sit down with him or the HR sit down with him to go over the new, because it’s not been a practice for the last year and a half for the corrective steps to take. So, I think Mr Jones brought to our attention, it seems, that there were many checks in drawers, over one million dollars worth of checks in the drawer for vendors that have not been cashed. It seems he has been called names.

“He has been called a failure. He has not been allowed to speak within the minutes in meetings. At some point he’s been laughed at, which is not professional.

“He’s been shut down, and so, for him, himself, it has been a lot to take.

“He has voiced concerns in terms of, in his words, “moles in the ground” who bring information back to the mayor, that when he asks them to do this, they do that.”

Merriweather said she did not recommend Jones when he was brought up to hire.

“However, the team did not go with the other gentleman, and so Mr. Wayne Jones was hired.

“Alderman Jones,” Gipson said

Merriweather gets up to leave as aldermen Jones begins to make his statements.

“When we look at the utility department, it’s been a very delicate matter for a long time, but particularly under this administration,” the alderman

said. “It’s been very, very delicate in regards to the utility department. And when you’re looking at all the needs that the utility department has, if you think…”

Gipson interrupted.

“We can continue. We just can’t vote on anything. So, continue,” she said to Jones.

Perry advised that with Merriweather absenting the board room there would not be a quorum and it would violate the open meetings “if you continue to, to…If she stays, it’s okay.”

Merriweather returned to her seat.

Alderman Jones said the utility “almost needs some very strong and dynamic leadership to address the many needs that the utility department has.”

“With that being said, I didn’t vote for Mr. Jones. But it doesn’t mean that I didn’t feel that you didn’t have the capacity to do the job at the time,” the aldermen said, directing his remarks to the general manager. “I’m just saying I think we really just need to open up the job search for a new general manager.”

He said he thinks Wayne Jones could be reassigned to another position.

“That is just my opinion,” the alderman said.

“Thank you, Alderman Jones,” Gipson said. “I won’t be long. I’ve made the recommendation. It’s all the different circumstances, the different complaints from employees. Uh, the continued actions by Mr. Jones, as I did talk to HR and different employees.”

Gipson alluded to a recent experience she said she had with Jones “that had me very concerned even for safety reasons, without going into a lot more.”

Gipson said she does not believe Jones has the “capacity to lead us to where we need to go.”

“In fact, I believe that some situations have actually become worse under his leadership,” the mayor said. “I’m very concerned as I am seeing various calls from different employees, especially as we deal with the Public Service Commission, that all of us operate in a very fair manner and follow the procedures accordingly and be held accountable for our actions. It’s just, as those under us are held accountable for actions, for Mr. Jones to be held accountable for his actions.”