Citing a desire for a fluid transition, outgoing New Hanover County Commissioner Jason Thompson stepped down from his posts on various committees and asked the board to put those appointments on Brian Berger, who currently has none.
At Tuesday’s regular meeting, Thompson noted others had asked him what would happen with his appointments when he steps down from the commission in December. Thompson said it wouldn’t be an issue if Commissioner Rick Catlin wasn’t also moving on to a seat in the state House.
Thompson motioned that the board remove him from all boards and committees, save for the Cape Fear Community College Board of Trustees, and for Berger to take those on, he said, “since he has none.” Berger was removed from his posts on committees by a vote of commissioners late last year.
Berger asked that the motion be amended so that he would be appointed to all boards that do not have a county representative, “but should.” New Hanover County’s website lists 18 boards and committees that do not include a commission representative, and one in which a post is not filled.
According to that list and his commissioner bio, Thompson’s appointments included the CFCC post, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority board, the Legion Sports Complex Commission, the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness and Wilmington Business Development. Wednesday morning, at the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority board’s regular meeting, Thompson announced he had resigned his posts and would be leaving the meeting at its start.
Thompson told the authority board that he could not vote and would that Berger would be replacing him in the short-term. He noted Berger was not at the meeting but said he may be arriving late, adding Berger tends to do so. Berger did not arrive before the board adjourned the meeting a little more than two hours later.
Board members and attendees applauded Thompson as he exited the room. Later in the meeting, Catlin, who also represents the county on that board, noted he’d hoped Thompson would stay on longer.
“That’s why I voted ‘no’ last night,” Catlin said, referring to commissioners’ 3-1 vote to accept Thompson’s motion.
Jim Quinn, chairman of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority board, noted Catlin would be moving on as well with his election to the state House. Quinn expressed appreciation to Catlin for his service, but also reservation as to who would be taking his place.
“I don’t know the three new elected officials have the level of professional experience that you have,” Quinn said, apparently referring to commissioners-elect Beth Dawson and Woody White, as well as a fifth commissioner to be appointed at a later date.
Quinn asked Catlin if he could do anything to work with county staff to keep projects between the authority and the county moving forward. Catlin responded he does not have control over whom the commission appoints to the board, but he said he would remain invested nonetheless.
“I’m a resident here. I’ll continue to have a vested interest and stay involved,” Catlin said.
