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JACKSON – A former interim county manager is returning to Northampton County to serve as a consultant until a new manager is appointed.

The Northampton County Board of Commissioners approved the agreement with Robert Murphy after a closed session during their meeting here on June 7. Commissioner Geneva Faulkner provided the motion, and Commissioner Nicole Boone seconded. The vote was unanimously in favor, though Commissioner Kelvin Edwards was not present to cast a vote.

The consulting agreement means that Murphy will assist Board Chair Charles Tyner while he continues to serve as Interim County Manager. Tyner stepped into that role in late April following the resignation of Charles Jackson.

Murphy is already familiar with Northampton County, having previously served as their Interim County Manager from Feb. 2019 to June 2019, bridging the gap between the departure of Kimberly Turner and the hiring of Jackson. He has over 30 years of experience as a county and city manager in both North Carolina and Virginia.

He currently resides in Rocky Mount.

According to his contract with Northampton County, Murphy will provide consulting services as an independent contractor, and will not serve in the capacity of an interim county manager or as an employee of the county.

Murphy will be compensated in the amount of $70 per hour, including travel time to and from his home in Rocky Mount. The agreement anticipates that he will work two days per week. He will also be reimbursed for mileage on a monthly basis, as well as for other reasonable expenses incurred by Murphy in connection with business-related activities for the county.

Murphy will continue as a consultant until the commissioners appoint a new county manager.