Senior-center members seek reinstatement of Annie Crim, allege unjust suspensions by director

Annie Crim told the Hamlet City Council on Aug. 13 that she received a notice banning her from the Hamlet Senior Center and that staff did not provide a clear reason for the decision. "I didn't do nothing," Crim said, asking the council to help her return to center activities she described as playing cards, dancing and exercising.

Mylene Castro Cross, who said she is a member of the senior center, described several suspensions she and others have received under the center director, identified in public comments as Amanda. Cross told the council the director once suspended her for 21 days and had issued shorter suspensions she called "unjust," saying several members are afraid to speak because they fear further discipline. "She suspended me for a whole week for, quote, unquote, interrupting the group," Cross said.

Council members acknowledged the complaints and asked the city manager to follow up. One councilor said the manager would "look into any complaints that we get, and then that'll be taken care of with the parties that are involved," and another said staff and the manager would work with center directors to try to make things right.

The council did not take formal action on the senior-center complaints during the meeting. Councilors asked staff to investigate the incidents, consult witnesses named by the speakers, and report back to the council. No timeline for that follow-up was announced at the meeting.

The public comments raised specific factual claims—Crim said she received a written notice that she could not return; Cross said she was suspended for 21 days and described two additional suspensions. Those claims remain unresolved in the record of the meeting; the council directed staff to examine the matter and contact the parties involved.

A next step recorded in the meeting was that the city manager and relevant staff would review the complaints, interview witnesses and report findings to the council; no disciplinary action or reinstatement was recorded during the public meeting.