FIRST ON 3: Bald Head Island HR director out

BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — The public voice of Bald Head Island is out after village leaders decided to move in a new direction.

BHI’S Village Council this afternoon voted to eliminate the position of Human Resources and Communications Director held by Karen Ellison, according to information provided by Village Manager Calvin Peck.

“After due consideration and evaluation of village needs and staffing, I believe it is time to change how the village handles its HR and Communications functions,” Mayor Andy Sayre said at the meeting, according to Peck’s information. “My thought is to eliminate the current position of joint HR/Communications, have a reduction in force of that employee and create a new HR Specialist Position. I would entertain a motion for elimination of the current position and creation of a new HR Specialist Position.”

The motion passed 5-0, according to Peck.

Sayre did not immediately return a message for comment this afternoon, but Mayor Pro Tem Gene Douglas said the move was made to allow whoever holds the position in the future to focus on human resources and not have to handle communications for the village as Ellison did.

Issues with BHI’s human resources were recently raised by Herbert Bryant, one of five Public Safety Department workers fired in late August. Bryant filed a federal lawsuit against the village and Peck. Among his allegations, Bryant argues Peck and the village failed to follow its own policies when it fired him and the other workers for allegations including harassment and violations of village policy.

Ellison had been with BHI since January 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile.