Oak Island Town Manager announces retirement after 30 years

OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WWAY) —  During individual meetings with councilmembers and administrative staff Thursday, Oak Island Town Manager David Kelly announced that he would be retiring at the end of the fiscal year in 2024.

Kelly expects to submit a formal written notice on Tuesday, January 2nd to the Town Council, informing them of his plans to retire, effective July 1st.

He has been in public service for over thirty-five years, having first been hired to the Brunswick County Water Utilities Department in 1988.

In the late nineties, Kelly was instrumental in helping to navigate the merger of the towns of Yaupon Beach and Long Beach into what is today the Town of Oak Island.

Following the merger, he served as Public Services Director until being named Town Manager in 2017.

Since becoming Town Manager, David has implemented plans to improve the town’s working relationship with other government entities and to continue building a team atmosphere among town employees.

He has overseen a wide range of projects including the storm response and recovery efforts, emergency dune restoration and long-term beach re-nourishment, the replacement of the Oak Island Fishing Pier, rebuilding of the Kevin Bell Skatepark, and expansions to the Middleton Park Complex.

Mr. Kelly said that the one resource he has always found most useful is the people he works with. “It is truly our town staff, and our collective achievements in improving our town, which I cherish the most,” he added.

Information on the candidate recruitment process for the Town Manager position will be will be published in the coming weeks on the town’s website.