Interim Town Manager hired for North Wilkesboro

An interim town manager was chosen unanimously by the North Wilkesboro Town Board of Commissioners during a Thursday, June 30, meeting at Town Hall.

Scott Buffkin, 53, the former manager of the Village of Clemmons, will begin the new post on July 18, North Wilkesboro Mayor Marc Hauser told The Wilkes Record.

Buffkin’s pay rate will be $62 an hour, plus payment of his milage, Hauser said, adding that Buffkin, who lives in Clemmons, will work three days per week for a total of 24 hours.

This action came in the wake of the resignation of former North Wilkesboro Town Manager Wilson Hooper, who left the post on June 5, after three years. Hooper’s contract was up for renewal this month.

As for Buffkin, “He is very experienced and comes highly recommended,” Hauser said.

Buffkin, aside from Clemmons, has been town manager of Jonesville, Maggie Valley and King. “His experience in town management goes back to 1991,” Hauser said.

Several people expressed interest in the interim town manager position, Hauser said. The board had authorized Hauser and North Wilkesboro Executive Planner Meredith Detsch to screen candidates before they were brought before the board. Detsch has served as acting town manager since Hooper resigned.

“There were other people who expressed interest, but none of them who had as much experience,” Hauser said. “We didn’t want them to have to go through a steep learning curve. This was the best candidate we found.”

The vote to hire Buffkin as interim town manager came after the board interviewed him during a closed session during the Thursday, June 30, meeting. The vote came after the closed session during a public portion of the meeting.

When asked if Buffkin may become North Wilkesboro’s new town manager, Hauser said, “It’s just too early to tell.”