EAST SPENCER  — Town Manager Michael Douglas is one of four recipients nationwide of a the Veterans Recognition Award from the International City/County Management Association.

The award honors high-performing veterans who moved from military service into local government roles and contributed significantly to their communities.

“The award acknowledges their exceptional service and seeks to challenge and change perceptions and biases against those who have served in the Armed Forces,” according to ICMA’s website.

Lynn Phillips, ICMA representative, was on hand at Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting to read a proclamation honoring Douglas and to present him with the award.

“Part of our goal as an organization is helping to create thriving communities and that includes programs that gets veterans involved,” she told board members. “We are here tonight to honor Michael for both his service here to this community and his service in the military.”

Douglas began his Army career in 1995 and retired in 2013 while stationed at Fort Bragg, now Fort Liberty. Douglas then taught for two years in Cumberland County before serving as town administrator in the town of Green Level and town manager in Kenly. Douglas joined the town of East Spencer in 2021, and Phillips pointed out a number of the benefits he has worked to bring to East Spencer over the last three years.

“He secured a $23.3 million dollar grant for overhauling the town’s water and sewer system, he secured approximately $4 million in Community Development Block Grants for infrastructure, and he used ARPA funds to make critical repairs and to establish a homeowner’s rehabilitation program,” said Phillips. “That means residents can secure $500 grants from the town to improve their homes if they qualify, and that’s amazing.”

She also pointed out that Douglas’ commitment to the next generation is clear in his development of a mentorship program with Livingstone College so students can gain an understanding of how local governments work.

And she said Douglas is working to establish a full-time fire department, which the town has never had.

“He is extremely public service oriented,” she said, “and your community is lucky to have him.”

Douglas was reserved talking about the award, but acknowledged “it feels good that other organizations outside of the town see how much joy I get out of service. But it’s a selfless service — the Army taught me that. I appreciate the recognition, but that’s not what drives me.” He said he believes the town and the programs he and the board have worked to put in place, and the grants he has worked to secure, “are helping people at the grassroots level, and for the ICMA to see the efforts put into it is nice.”

“The town of East Spencer is on fire right now,” said Alderman Shawn Rush, “and Michael is a big part of that. Yes, we are lucky to have him. He works crazy hard.”

The ICMA awards are presented once a year and the three additional recipients are from Kansas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.