HAMLET — A seat on the city’s planning board is now open following the removal of Esco Latimer.
The unanimous decision was made by the Hamlet City Council during an emergency meeting the afternoon of Nov. 14.
Mayor Amy Guinn opened the meeting, noting that it was not a disciplinary hearing or a criminal proceeding, but an administrative action regarding an appointed position “and our responsibility is to ensure the process is fair, transparent and consistent with North Carolina law.”
She also made clear that it was not a public hearing or open forum for public comment. When Guinn said that outbursts or “attempts to speak out of turn” would result in removal, an audible gasp was made by attendee Sean Patrick Smith.
THE ACCUSATIONS
Councilman Tony Clewis read the allegations against Latimer, most of which stemmed from a June 14 incident at the Hamlet Senior Center, where he was accused of intimidation during an AARP board meeting.
Councilman Tony Clewis reads a list of allegations against Esco Latimer.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
According to Clewis, Senior Center staff and board members reported that Latimer “became irate” during a disagreement regarding board eligibility.
“Security footage shows that Mr. Latimer was aggressive and intimidating to the seniors and refused to leave despite multiple requests, leaving only after repeated directives,” Clewis said. “The incident caused concern among AARP participants and was reported to the city staff at the Senior Center.”
Clewis went on to say that a Senior Center employee received an “intimidating” call from Latimer through Facebook messenger later that night, with Latimer reportedly wanting to know who escalated the incident and who authorized a review of video footage.
“The employee reported feeling unsafe and threatened as a result to their supervisor,” Clewis said.
In the second charge, Latimer allegedly entered an employee-only area and confronted another staff member, asking the same questions as the previous night’s Messenger call.
Clewis said the employee “felt intimidated and in fear for their safety.”
“Due to both employees' reports of feeling threatened and unsafe, the city manager referred the issue to the city attorney,” Clewis said, after which the attorney, T.C. Morphis, advised the city council to issue a no-contact order, banning Latimer from “restricted city areas, pursuant to statutory authority, to ensure staff safety.”
According to Clewis, the no-contact order was served on Sept. 19 — three months later. Clewis said that Latimer refused to sign for certified service of the order, which was subsequently served via regular mail and email.
Audience members watch during a special meeting of the Hamlet City Council.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Latimer allegedly attempted to enter the Senior Center on Oct. 29, “stating he was retrieving a puzzle” despite the no-contact order. After being asked to leave, Latimer went to the parking lot and reportedly made statements to senior patrons that staff reportedly perceived as attempts to discredit personnel, according to Clewis.
That incident, Clewis said, was also reported to City Manager John Terziu, who then referred it to Morphis.
The next day, Clewis said Senior Center staff received a phone call from an unknown number, with Latimer taking over and “in a tone perceived as intimidating, read aloud statements verbatim previously submitted by both employees.”
Again, Clewis said both employees reported “feeling threatened and fearful as a result of the call.”
Terziu then, according to Clewis, obtained an emergency no-contact order from the court, which was advised by Morphis “to protect our employees.”
Unrelated to the Senior Center issues, Clewis said Latimer made “public personal attacks about …other members of the planning board that could be defamatory.”
Councilman Tony Clewis and Mayor Amy Guinn listen as Esco Latimer launches a defense.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
“Regardless of validity, such contact was viewed as unprofessional and inconsistent with the role of volunteer board appointee and could disrupt regularly, orderly meetings,” Clewis said, “and is seen as unprofessional conduct of an appointed board member.”
Clewis also referenced a misdemeanor charge of communicating threats, filed against Laitmer by Dr. Amber Watkins following the Oct. 14 Hamlet City Council meeting. Both Watkins and Latimer were running for a seat on the council.
“This reflected an ongoing pattern of escalating conflict and is against conduct unbecoming of an appointed planning board member,” Clewis said.
Though not mentioned by Clewis, a resolution purportedly from Terziu — provided by Latimer — dated Sept. 10 mentions the Senior Center incident, as well as an allegation of Latimer going to Public Works staff on Aug. 13, “despite explicit guidance from the City Manager that all inquiries to City employees must be routed through his office, thereby interrupting operations and questioning staff in a manner intended to elicit a decision beyond their authority.”
That resolution also accuses Latimer of showing a “continuing pattern of harassment and hostile intent toward City employees,” adding that his “actions have disrupted the orderly administration of City business.”
According to the resolution, Latimer was:
Violation of the order could result in a charge of second-degree trespassing.
Esco Latimer refutes several claims made in the allegations against him.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
THE REBUTTAL
During his defense, Latimer said that he was a member of the AARP board and that the minutes from that meeting contradict the city’s accusations.
Latimer read from the minutes, pointing out a misquote, noting the June 14 incident stemmed from him challenging that the current board chairman could not serve as both chair and CEO, citing the national bylaws.
After a disagreement, Latimer says the minutes reflect that he was asked to leave and that “Esco said he would not stay in an organization where leadership does not abide by the rules.” While reading that part, Latimer looked over at Terziu.
In a video, which Latimer posted to his Facebook page on Nov. 12, it appears that Latimer walks in, grabs a chair, sits down and is handed papers before saying something about 1 minute and 40 seconds in.
After what appears to be a disagreement, Latimer gets out of his chair and walks to the door around the 4:10 mark. He turns back and appears to address the board for about 10 seconds before walking out.
“Yes, we had a disagreement, and yes, I left,” Latimer said.
Latimer said he has been a volunteer at the Senior Center for the past two years and has never gone anywhere he wasn’t permitted.
“I have a rule: before you go into anyone’s office, you ask can you come in … that is called respect … even if you don’t have to, it’s just common courtesy,” Latimer said.
He admitted to calling the staff member through Messenger — after asking first: “We had a conversation about many things, one of them being the AARP meeting.”
Esco Latimer holds up a screenshot of a phone call.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Latimer denied calling the Senior Center in October, saying he had the number blocked. However, he also held up a screenshot of what he said was a phone call to his fiancee from the Senior Center at 9:09 a.m. Oct. 30.
Lattimer said he was at the hospital and on pain medication at the time he was alleged to have quoted verbatim statements previously reportedly submitted by Amanda Kempen and Shaquina Carey.
Latimer said that either Terziu was not telling the truth in his report, or Kempen and Carey were not telling the truth about the phone call: “And you have a signed affidavit to the court saying that this is true and that’s not true. They called me.”
(Note: During his explanation regarding why he couldn’t have made the phone call, Latimer first said he was in the hospital, then indicated his fiancee was driving, and later said he was “laying down on the couch with the puppies.”)
“This has been a ruse against me, because I was running for a campaign … and I’m okay with that,” Lattimer said. “I got beat. Tony, you beat me … I can take a L, but I make a lot more Ws when I take Ls.”
THE DECISION
Following Latimer’s rebuttal, it was time for the council to openly deliberate the issue.
Councilman Oscar Sellers attempted to ask a question for clarification about the AARP meeting — but was stopped by Clewis who said, “You’re not supposed to ask him a question.”
Councilmen Eddie Martin, left, and Oscar Sellers listen to Esco Latimer's arguments.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
However, when Guinn laid out the rules at the beginning, she only said that Latimer did not have the right to question council members or city staff. She did not say council members could ask questions.
“I just don’t feel like our employees would make up things, make up statements and be in fear for their safety … I think it’s unbecoming to a planning board member,” Clewis said. “There’s too many things going on, too much that’s happened, and regardless of the outcome of the election — I don’t think that had anything to do with it — I think we need to take action.”
Councilwoman Abbie Covington added: “I think if we had intended to use this to skew the election, we would have handled this prior to the election.”
Sellers turned to Councilman Eddie Martin to ask if he had anything to say, to which Martin replied: “If I did, I’d say it.”
Covington moved to rescind Latimer’s appointment “based on his conduct in recent months,” which was seconded by Clewis and agreed to by Sellers and Martin. When Guinn asked if any were opposed, Smith blurted out from the audience, “Aye.”
Before Guinn declared the vote, Sellers started to say something but changed his mind: “It won’t do any good after we’ve already voted.”
Following the meeting, Latimer issued a statement saying he was “genuinely stunned by the level of inconsistency on display.”
“Our City Manager faced allegations of sexual harassment and was neither removed nor asked to recuse himself pending an investigation,” Latimer said. “Yet this evening, I was forced out by my campaign opponents, Tony Clewis and Abbie Covington, without the same due process.”
(NOTE: Covington was not running for reelection in the recent race, but Clewis and Martin were.)
Latimer also further addressed the allegations made against him:
“First, I was never banned from the Senior Center. I was instructed not to speak with any City employee or the City Attorney regarding City business, something I have fully complied with. Contrary to what Mr. Clewis stated, no “no-contact” order dated September 19th was ever issued to me. The only communication I received was on September 10th, advising me not to speak to City employees.
“Second, any communication I have had with Ms. Carey was through Facebook, and always with my fiancée present on speakerphone. I have consistently asked Ms. Carey for permission before calling, out of respect for her husband.
“I also briefly visited Amanda Kempen’s office only after confirming her location. I asked for permission to enter — something I do as a courtesy in anyone’s workspace — and she agreed. Even then, I remained at the doorway.
“Regarding October 30, 2025: I did not call the Senior Center, as Mr. Clewis alleged. Ms. Carey and Ms. Kempen called my fiancée on speakerphone. I could hear Ms. Kempen in the background. They called to apologize for previously asking me to leave, acknowledging that I was not required to do so. My fiancée[‘s] phone log was provided to confirm this but the … City Council did not want to see it.
“Additionally, on a Facebook Live broadcast — still available on my page — I discussed my plans to run for County Commissioner. I referred to Joseph Brown and mentioned, as a matter of public record, that he had previously been involved in an alienation-of-affection lawsuit. If that comment offended him, I sincerely apologize.”
Councilman Maurice Stuart was not in attendance at Friday’s meeting.
