June 8. By Dave Yochum. The town’s first HR director is no longer with the town after a personnel dispute with Town Manager Andrew Grant. In a letter to the mayor and Town Board, HR Director Jared Azzone said he was reviewed “negatively for not interacting with more employees during the time that the CDC explicitly said it was too risky to meet with others in person.”

Grant told commissioners that many of Azzone’s complaints were inaccurate and that all actions taken were consistent with the Town’s Personnel Policy.

Azzone

As an employer, is the town liable for a sudden termination? Azzone may have answered that question himself.

“I know there is not much that can be done at this point because North Carolina is an At-Will state, the unemployment system has denied my claim to forced resignation due to the Town’s response, I am not a minority or other protected individual, and as a result have no other recourse or action to take,” Azzone said in the May 21 letter.

First HR director

He was the town’s first-ever HR director, focused on effective recruitment, retention, and staff development, with the goal of making the town the preferred employer of choice.

At will translated

At-will means that an employer can terminate an employee at any time for any reason, except an illegal one, or for no reason without incurring legal liability.

Town officials say they will hunt for another HR director.

Town Manager Andrew Grant