Oriental Town Charter: More Info

For those following the saga of Oriental's 1899 charter and subsequent amendments, I now have a copy of the 1997 ordinance, entitled 'AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 184, PRIVATE LAWS OF 1899 ("TOWN CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF ORIENTAL").

The operative portion of the document reads as follows:

"BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE TOWN OF ORIENTAL:

That Chapter 184, Private Laws of 1899 ("Town Charter of the Town of Oriental") be and the same is hereby amended by adding Section 16 as follows:

"Section 16. That the Town of Oriental shall operate under the council-manager form of government in accordance with Part 2 of Article 7 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes of North Carolina and any provision of this act [the 1899 charter] not in conflict therewith."

ADOPTED THIS 12th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1997

/s/ Sherrill Styron
MAYOR

/s/ William M. Crowe
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR"

The bottom line: Pretty much what I have been reporting for the last year, as summarized here. In other words, the board of commissioners makes policy and political judgements, and the town manager administers the town.