• Board must fill vacancy left by death of T.J. Barrett

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

A replacement for popular town councilman T.J. Barrett won’t be appointed immediately.

“The board hasn’t even talked about it yet,” Town Manager Darren Currie said Thursday. “It’s really too soon.”

Barrett died at home last week of heart trouble. A native of New York, he was police chief for Lake Waccamaw before being elected to the town council in 2005. Barrett’s funeral was held Sunday.

Barrett overwhelmingly defeated Daniel Hilburn and Stuart Carroll for the town board post in 2005, with 272 votes to Hilburn’s 137 and Carroll’s 62.

Under state law, the town council appoints a replacement for a board member who dies before completing a term. The appointee serves only for the remainder of the term, which in Barrett’s case ends in 2009. Lake Waccamaw council members serve four-year terms.

Currie said the board may call a special meeting to consider a replacement. The method of replacement is left up to the board under state law – the board may accept nominations by board members or residents, or ask potential council members to apply for the post.

The replacement must meet all the requirements of a regular board member, including being a registered voter, a resident of the town, and not having a felony conviction.

Currie said the entire town will miss Barrett.

“It’s been a shock,” he said. “It’s tough. You’ll never find a nicer guy who really loved his community.”