ELIZABETHTOWN — The Bladen County Board of Commissioners voted on Monday to remove Chris Ellis as the county’s revenue director/tax collector.

The vote was 6-3, with Commissioners Delilah Blanks, Arthur Bullock and Michael Cogdell voting against the measure.

According to County Manager Greg Martin, the motion to remove Ellis was made by Commissioner Billy Ray Pait and seconded by Wayne Edge.

Martin said the motion read to remove Ellis “for good cause based on conduct unbecoming a Bladen County employee which created an adverse work environment in the county tax office.”

Martin did not want to go into any detail with regards to the conduct that sparked the termination. Ellis, who has been on the job for the past 6 1/2 years, has been on administrative leave for about the past 10 days.

Prior to the motion to remove Ellis, Blanks made a motion to not terminate Ellis and called for a thorough investigation. That motion was seconded by Cogdell, but failed by a 6-3 vote of the board.

Martin said Ellis’ responsibilities will be handled by his former assistants — Renee Davis and Carol Cain — and that the commissioners will look at hiring a replacement in a timely manner.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

Ellis
http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Ellis-Christopher.jpgEllis

W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com