Last week I blogged about the trouble brewing in Smithfield, where the town council has learned that despite explicit direction that no raises be given to employees, 31 employees got them — including an astronomical 29.5 percent hike given to the town clerk. The News & Observer now reports that town manager Eric Williams, who was put on administrative leave, says he didn’t have anything to do with it.

 

“Those salary increases, especially the ones that appear to be so high, were not approved by me,” Williams said. “The salary adjustments should not go through payroll unless I sign off on it.”

Then who did?