The Hamlet City Council once again came under public scrutiny during its December 9, 2025, meeting as residents questioned the Council’s continued refusal to take action regarding City Manager John Terziu, despite a series of unresolved allegations and administrative controversies that have followed his tenure for much of the year.
During the public comment period, Sean Patrick Smith, a longtime Hamlet resident and frequent critic of the current City Council, formally called on Council members to remove Terziu from his position. Smith cited multiple allegations that have circulated throughout 2025, including alleged sexual harassment, misconduct in office, and broader concerns about leadership, transparency, and accountability.
As Smith approached the podium, video from the meeting shows City Manager Terziu raising his phone to record Smith while he spoke. Observers noted that Terziu appeared to smirk while filming—behavior several attendees later described as dismissive, given the seriousness of the issues being raised in a public forum.
Smith began by highlighting what he described as inconsistencies in Council participation and oversight. He noted that Councilman Stewart had been absent during the controversial removal of former City Council candidate Esco Latimer from the Planning Board but was present at the December 9 meeting. Smith then turned his attention to Councilwoman Abbie Covington, alleging that Terziu was appointed City Manager without a publicly voted Council action and that the Council later approved increased compensation to allow Terziu to reside outside the Hamlet city limits.
Smith further criticized the Council’s handling of the city’s former Police Chief, who was removed from his position shortly after raising concerns related to the allegations surrounding Terziu. According to Smith, the Chief’s removal raised serious questions about retaliation and the Council’s willingness to address misconduct at the administrative level.
Continuing his remarks, Smith referenced reports that Terziu has filed, or intends to file, a hostile work environment claim against the City of Hamlet. Smith questioned how such a claim could coexist with the City Manager’s role as the city’s top administrator and argued that much of the alleged hostility stemmed from unresolved controversies surrounding Terziu’s leadership.
Smith also questioned whether Terziu met the necessary qualifications at the time of his appointment and asked publicly who is funding Terziu’s efforts to obtain additional credentials through coursework in Chapel Hill. No clarification was provided by Council members during the meeting.
Tensions escalated when Smith raised issues involving Terziu’s son, Chase Terziu, and widely circulated rumors concerning the stabbing of John Terziu shortly before he accepted the City Manager position. At that point, the City Attorney intervened and halted that line of discussion, stating that only city business could be addressed during public comment.
Following the meeting, Smith told The Daily Counter News that he has spoken directly with Chase Terziu’s attorney and obtained information he intends to release once fully validated. Video footage shows that when Smith mentioned Chase Terziu’s attorney during the meeting, John Terziu’s demeanor appeared to shift noticeably from visible amusement to apparent concern.
Public court records indicate that Chase Terziu is currently charged with five felony offenses, including the stabbing of his father, John Terziu. Contrary to rumors that Chase Terziu had been committed to a mental health facility, he is currently being held in the Moore County Jail pending trial, scheduled for February 9, 2026.
During the exchange, Terziu made an audible remark toward Smith and was reprimanded by Mayor Amy Guinn. Smith then formally requested that the Council immediately vote on Terziu’s removal. No Council member responded, and no vote was taken. Terziu, however, responded directly to Smith by stating, “You’re the only nightmare here!”—a comment that prompted a second reprimand from Mayor Guinn.
As Smith’s allotted speaking time expired, Councilman Tony Clewis addressed the audience. Clewis asserted that Esco Latimer had removed himself from the Planning Board, a claim that continues to be disputed by residents who point to a publicly viewed hearing that appeared coordinated to justify Latimer’s removal.
Clewis further stated that Smith, as a private citizen, does not “control” him as a sitting elected official. The remark drew immediate attention from attendees, as it underscored a broader concern raised throughout the meeting: the accountability of elected officials to the citizens they serve.
Under North Carolina law, city councils derive their authority from the electorate, and public comment periods—protected under North Carolina’s Open Meetings Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.9 et seq.)—exist specifically to allow citizens to question, criticize, and seek explanations from those in power. While citizens do not “control” elected officials in a literal sense, council members are directly accountable to the public for their decisions, conduct, and oversight responsibilities.
During his remarks, Clewis repeatedly instructed audience members to remain quiet. At the conclusion of his statement, he warned Smith against mentioning his name on social media or in any other public context—a comment several attendees described as intimidating. No correction or clarification was issued by Council leadership.
Following Clewis’s remarks, another Hamlet resident addressed the Council, stating that he had contacted the city multiple times regarding unresolved issues and received no response or corrective action. The speaker also criticized Clewis for comments made at a previous Council meeting, alleging that the councilman made inappropriate remarks and laughed about a local church and its congregation.
Immediately after public comments concluded, Hamlet City Council entered closed session. While the substance of closed sessions may be lawfully limited, North Carolina law requires that minutes of closed sessions be kept. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.11(c), those minutes may be released through a public records request once disclosure no longer frustrates the purpose of the closed session.
Citizens seeking further transparency regarding Council discussions following the December 9 meeting may submit a public records (FOIA) request to the City of Hamlet for the closed-session minutes associated with that meeting.
The December 9 meeting left many residents expressing frustration over what they view as a continuing pattern of deflection, defensiveness, and inaction by the Hamlet City Council. As allegations surrounding the City Manager remain unresolved, public confidence in city leadership continues to erode, raising broader questions about transparency, accountability, and governance in Hamlet.