Comes as no revelation that Chancer McLaughlin is leaving as town manager of Hope Mills.
Afterall, Mayor Pro Tem Hope Page, and Commissioners Lisa Tremmel and Cynthia Hamilton voted on June 22 not to renew his contract in March 2027. Commissioners Bryan Marley and Grilley Mitchell voted in opposition. Now, McLaughlin announced he’s resigning and leaving his position in November.
“No, Mr. McLaughlin’s resignation should not be a shock to anyone,” Page said. “With Mr. McLaughlin’s caliber, drive, and ambition, I wish him the very best and nothing but success.”
Nor was Tremmel taken aback.
“It’s natural that Mr. McLaughlin would be pursuing new opportunities,” Tremmel said, “so it is not surprising that he would move on to his next step when the opportunity arises.”
Hamilton said she didn’t see McLaughlin’s resignation coming.
“Yes, I was surprised that he announced his resignation,” she said. “I really didn’t expect that.”
That’s somewhat baffling in itself.
When you vote not to renew an employee’s contract, what else would anyone expect?
McLaughlin has been town manager since February 2023 when he was named interim town manager when Scott Meszaros abruptly resigned. McLaughlin, the former director of planning and economic development, got off to a sound start.
“I appreciate your confidence, and I will proceed with a very clear version of transparency between our board and our staff,” he wrote the board of commissioners. “And I look forward to working with the board and town of Hope Mills.”
McLaughlin was named town manager on February 5, 2024.
Commissioners even voted to extend McLaughlin’s contract in March 2025 for an additional two years with an annual salary of $140,000 per year.
State Auditor’s Report Beginning of the End
The honeymoon lasted until a state auditor’s report revealed “notable deficiencies concerning the financial health of Hope Mills,” said Dave Boliek, the no-nonsense state auditor.
The 66‑page report, released April 24, portrayed a suspect picture of town finances.
“Our review of the Town’s financial health found serious deficiencies, and was most concerning,” Boliek wrote. “The Town recorded a fund balance reserve loss of $1.5 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the first balance reserve loss for the Town in the past five years.”
The report also said there were instances of unjustified salary increases for some town employees, and the shifting of public funds from certain budgets to cover unrelated expenses.
“The people of Hope Mills deserve peace of mind knowing that their town is being managed effectively and with proper care,” Boliek told CityView.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the audit, Mayor Jessie Bellflowers said that reaching into the town’s general reserve funds was necessary because of unforeseen law enforcement costs and other public safety expenditures.
“It wasn’t like we went in there to drain the town reserves,” he said. “The board was placed between a rock and a hard place, forcing them to make ‘hard, difficult decisions’ about public safety.”
Meanwhile, McLaughlin defended that he did not need documentation to award raises to town employees.
Still, the mayor, the board and McLaughlin found themselves in the crosshairs of the state auditor’s findings. On September 2, the town was notified that it was placed on the Local Government Commission’s Unit Assistance List to receive additional financial oversight and support.
For McLaughlin, the state auditor’s report likely was the beginning of the end.
“I’ve said two or three times in a row,” John Martinson, a town resident, told the board on June 22, “you should fire this town manager.”
And that’s just what Page, Tremmel, and Hamilton decided was best for the town in voting not to renew McLaughlin’s contract in March.
Credit: Matthew Wonderly / CityView
Epilogue
You might believe McLaughlin would be leaving as something of a bitter town manager.
He chose the high road.
“Hope Mills will always hold a special place in my professional journey,” McLaughlin told The Fayetteville Observer. “I am thankful for the trust placed in me, the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the opportunity to contribute to a community that has been such an important part of my life. I leave with tremendous respect for the people who make this town special and confidence in the continued dedication of those who will carry its work forward.”
I reached out to McLaughlin on three occasions for him to reflect on his time as town manager and his plans going forward.
He did not respond.
I also reached out to Bellflowers. Marley, and Mitchell about their thoughts on McLaughlin’s resignation.
They did not respond.
You’ll have to judge their lack of response for yourself.
McLaughlin’s resignation is effective November 20.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
