Changes at the top on Bald Head Island?

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Sources tell WWAY that residents will ask for Bald Head Island Village Manager Calvin Peck to be fired at Friday’s Village Council meeting, and this won’t be the first time.

Residents and former employees said they are fed up with the way Peck has been running Bald Head Island and plan to ask for Peck to go.

According to documents requested by WWAY, 38 percent of the island’s staff has left since 2011.

We have tried asking dozens of people to speak on camera about their feelings about Peck and his work on Bald Head Island. Most people, closely involved with the situation or not, said they could not or would not for fear of retribution from Peck.

Concerns stem from a work environment people said is toxic.

In August of 2012, a petition was filed with Bald Head Island’s Village Council saying residents had no confidence in Peck. Village Council, though, said they still had faith in him.

In December of 2012, more residents came back in front of the town council saying Peck was operating a toxic work environment. Those are the same charges former employees are making to this day.

The issues arose again recently after five public safety officers on the island were fired for so-called inappropriate text messages. Those officers deny those charges.

We tried reaching out to Bald Head Island Mayor Andy Sayre. He had no comment. We also reached out to the Village Council. Mayor Pro Tempore Gene Douglas had no comment. Councilmen Art Morris and Robert Heglesen refused to take our phone calls. Peck has declined our repeated request for an interview.