Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1477031
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 24 - 30, 2022 UCW 11 e town of Spring Lake announced Lt. Dysoaneik Spellman as the next police chief in Spring Lake after a two-month search. e decision was effective Monday, Aug. 15. Spellman was appointed interim police chief when former chief Troy McDuffie retired for the second time in 2021. Spellman, who has 23 years of law enforcement experience, has been with the Spring Lake Police Department since 2014, when he was hired by McDuffie as a patrol officer. He began his career in 1999 at the Beaufort County Sherriff 's Office. "I have a passion for this community and spent my career preparing for this moment,'' Spellman said Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 16, after the Police Department celebrated with a social media an- nouncement and reception. "When I got here and got to know the department, I knew this was a place I could make a difference. I am proud to serve the Spring Lake residents." Spellman has an advanced law enforcement cer- tificate through the N.C. Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission. He also holds a bachelor's degree in criminal jus- tice administration, an associate's degree in applied science with a concentration in criminal justice technology and is a graduate of the N.C. Justice Academy Management Development Program. "I hope to bring some policies and procedures to the department to move us forward to getting a national accreditation," Spellman said. He added that most agencies in North Carolina were accredited. e Spring Lake Board of Aldermen received the announcement from interim Town Manager Joe Durham by email on Monday night after an hour- long special meeting citing the N.C. general statute for personnel. "Chief Spellman is committed to professional- ism and integrity. I have the utmost respect for his leadership and his ability to serve and protect the community," Durham said in the announcement. Durham could not be reached Tuesday for further comment. Spellman on Tuesday said he would like the com- munity to know he has an open-door policy and that the Police Department will be fully transparent with residents. "We have nothing to hide,'' Spellman said. "It is beneficial to be out in the community, for me to be out in the community, and I look forward to creating opportunities for residents to get to know our Police Department better. Our residents are our eyes and ears." Spellman said he had not yet signed a contract, and the salary offered could not be confirmed Tuesday through Durham or the Local Government Commission. e hiring range from the posted po- lice chief job description was $70,000 to $85,000. Currently, the Spring Lake Police Department has 27 employees, including 25 police officers. ey have three open positions. Board members, including Alderman Raul Pala- cios and Alderwoman Sona Cooper, said although the decision was left up to Durham, they look forward to working with Spellman and he has their support in his new role. Spellman: Proud to serve Spring Lake as Police Chief by JAMI MCLAUGHLIN, CityView Today NEWS Members of the Spring Lake Police Department pose with new chief Lt. Dysoaneik Spellman (fourth from the right) last week. (Photo courtesy of Spring Lake Police Department) City Manager Doug Hewett has announced the promotion of two people onto his leadership team: Kelly Olivera has been named interim assistant city manager and Jodi Phelps has been appointed chief of staff. Olivera had served as the city's budget and evalu- ation director. Phelps was the city's marketing and communications director. Both promotions took effect Monday, the city said in a release. Olivera succeeds Jay Toland, who this summer was named associate superintendent of business operations for Cumberland County Schools. His last day with the city was Aug. 12, a spokeswoman for the city said. Phelps succeeds Rebecca Jackson, who retired July 31, the spokeswoman said. Olivera has been with the city for 11 years. She most recently worked with Hewett and the leader- ship team to present a balanced FY22-23 budget to the City Council that advanced city goals without a tax rate increase, the release said. "Kelly is a proven asset to our organization and her sound decisions helped us accomplish financial goals set forth by the Council," Hewett said in the release. "Over the next few months, she will lend her expertise to our team as we progress toward the bond referendums in November and continue mov- ing the city forward." As interim assistant city manager, Olivera will oversee several departments, including budget and evaluation, the city clerk's office, finance, human re- lations, human resource development and informa- tion technology, according to the city's website. "I am excited to step into the interim position and have the opportunity to use my experience with the city to better serve our residents, elected officials and staff," Olivera said in the release. "Having a greater role in the continued success of our city is truly an honor." Olivera was hired as a financial analyst in the Finance Department in 2011 before founding the Budget and Evaluation Office in 2014 with former director Tracey Broyles and being promoted to lead the office last year, the release said. She earned her bachelor of science in accountancy from the Univer- sity of North Carolina at Wilmington. Olivera will serve in the interim role while the search is conducted for a new assistant city man- ager, the release said. Her salary is $140,220, the spokeswoman said. Phelps joined the city last year from UNC Pem- broke, where she had served as the chief communi- cations and marketing officer since 2016, the release said. Since joining the city, she has launched a new Strategic Communications Plan and rebranded the Marketing and Communications Department, both with the goal of elevating the city's brand and more effectively telling the Fayetteville story, according to the release. "Jodi quickly came up to speed on city business and used the city's overall Strategic Plan to produce results," Hewett said. "Her previous career expe- rience, ability to build relationships and proven leadership make her well-suited to fill the role as our next chief of staff." Phelps has previously served as chief operating officer for Action Pathways in Fayetteville as well as agency advancement and communications director. She has a bachelor of arts degree in communication and history with a minor in art history from Mercer University and a master of business administration from omas University. "At this time of unprecedented opportunity for Fayetteville's continued growth, I am grateful to continue serving in this new role," Phelps said in the release. "It is a privilege to be part of a talented team working daily to advance our strategic priorities that will positively impact the future of our city." A spokeswoman for the city said Phelps' salary will be $145,750. Two promoted in Fayetteville City Manager's Office a CityView Today STAFF REPORT JAMI MCLAUGHLIN, CityView Today. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200. Kelly Olivera Jodi Phelps