Government

The town is governed by a mayor-council form of government. Elected officials consist of the mayor and five commissioners or council members. When elected, the mayor serves a 2 year term and commissioners serve a 4 year term. Present elected and appointed officials are:

	Term Expiration:
Mayor Austin Brown	2023	(Elected November 2021)
Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Robinson Melvin	2023	(Elected November 2021)
Commissioner Haywood Johnson	2025	(Appointed March 2023)
Commissioner Barbara A. Peterson	2023	(Elected November 2021)
Commissioner Ralph Smith, Jr.	2025	(Elected November 2021)
Commissioner Jo Allison Strickland	2025	(Elected November 2021)

For a list of committees and the Commissioner(s) who chair them, click here.

For a description of Commissioner Responsibilities, click here.

Board Attorney: 

Town Clerk/ Finance Officer: Ms. Jennifer Gray

Deputy Clerk: Ms. Shauna' Harper

Mayor and Commissioners

Click on the images below to view a larger version.

 

Mayor Austin Brown

•  Finance and Administration

Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Robinson Melvin

• Finance/ Administration, Chair
• Parks and Recreation, Chair
• Cemeteries, Co-Chair
  
• Buildings, Co-Chair
  
• Planning Board Liaison

 

Commissioner Haywood Johnson

• Streets/Highways, Chair
• Planning Board Liaison
• Public Works (Water/Sewer/Garbage), Co-Chair

 

Commissioner Barbara A. Peterson

• Finance Committee, Co-Chair
  
• Public Buildings, Chair
• Cemeteries, Chair
• Volunteer Group Liaison

 

Commissioner Ralph Smith, Jr.

• Public Works (Water/Sewer/Garbage), Chair
• Safety, Co-Chair
  

 

Commissioner Jo Allison Strickland

• Safety, Chair
• Planning Board Liaison
• Volunteer Group Liaison