By Jessie Burchette

Salisbury Post

CHINA GROVE — The man who has been serving as acting town manager now has the job officially.

William R. "Bill" Pless, a resident of Welcome, has a two-year contract as town manager.

Meeting in a special session Tuesday evening, the Board of Aldermen approved a contract that will pay Pless $67,000 a year and provide additional benefits that include 10 days of vacation.

Pless will get a 5 percent salary increase after six months.

Mayor Don Bringle acknowledged that the salary is more than the town paid its previous manager, Eric Davis. He added, however, that he had expected the cost to be higher.

The contract allows Pless up to 18 months to relocate to China Grove.

"With the current housing market as soft as it is, we wanted to give him every opportunity to sell his home and relocate," Bringle said.

Pless has served as interim manager since September, following the departure of Davis, who became city manager in Mount Holly.

Initially, Pless worked for the town through a contract with All American Associates, a Mount Airy-based consulting firm.

Ron Niland, president of All American Associates, assisted the town with the search for a new manager.

Niland met with the board and with Town Attorney Tom Brooke Tuesday afternoon to work out final details of the contract.

The board then met with Pless and extended the offer.

Pless becomes the third person to hold the job since the town switched to a manager form of government

Bringle said current plans call for including some money in the upcoming budget to use All American Associates if needed.

Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com.

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