City Manager

 

                    

Lloyd Payne
City Manager

paynel@concordnc.gov

  
Lloyd Wm. Payne, Jr. is Concord's eighth City Manager, after serving as Assistant City Manager since May of 2015. Prior to arriving in Concord, Payne served ten years as the Town Manager of Elkin in Surry County, and four years as Town Manager of Lake Waccamaw in Columbus County.

In addition to his local government experience, Payne retired from service in the North Carolina Army National Guard after 25 years. A decorated veteran in the field of transportation and logistics, his final assignment was the Command Sergeant Major (CSM) of the 113th Sustainment Brigade. Payne served three tours of active duty service, including combat deployments to Bosnia in the mid-1990s and Iraq/Kuwait twice between 2003 and 2010.

Payne has been recognized by the International City-County Management Association as a Credentialed Manager, and holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from Appalachian State University. He has completed the Rural Economic Development Institute through the NC Rural Center, the UNC School of Government's  Municipal Administration Course and Public Executive Leadership Academy, the ICMA Gettysburg Leadership Institute, ICMA Williamsburg Leadership Institute, and Leadership Cabarrus.

Payne's appointment was effective April 1, 2018. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Beth, and their children Ella and Liam, as well as playing golf.

Council-Manager Form of Government

 

City of Concord Strategic Plan 2020-2023

The City of Concord's Strategic Plan was adopted by City Council on April 11, 2019. The plan was drafted by the City Manager, presented to the Mayor and City Council at the Annual City Council Planning Session on January 31, 2019, and revised based on City Council feedback. The plan outlines the City of Concord City Council's goals and objectives for FY 2020-2023 and will guide budget development. Click here to review the plan.

Manager's Notes

by Lloyd Payne, City Manager

Hello Concord.  Other than the rain, I trust your Spring has been great and that big plans await you and your loved ones this Summer.

The City’s budget process is almost complete.  The Mayor and Council have been involved in the process as well as staff to craft a fiscally responsible budget.  With the completion of the City’s Strategic Plan (2020-2023), the budget was developed using the Strategic Plan being the guide to funding decisions.  We will review the Plan each year, analyze our progress, and make adjustments as needed.  The Plan is available online at concordnc.gov/strategicplan.

One of the focus areas now and in the coming years will be enhancing our greenway network throughout the City and in our Historic Downtown.  With the Connectivity Study complete, staff will be working with developers and property owners to secure property to connect our neighborhoods, schools, and commercial area by using greenways, sidewalks, and multi-use paths.  Staff has and will continue to pursue grants and other funding options to make this goal a reality.  We will focus City funding efforts to reach this goal where other funds cannot be secured as this is important to our City’s quality of life and healthy living.

The City continues to work with the owners of The Grounds at Concord (former site of Phillip Morris) to bring jobs and tax investment to our City.  We, along with Cabarrus County and the Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, are meeting frequently with potential developers and business owners about locating on this property.  There continues to be a great deal of interest in the site which is arguably one of (if not) the best sites in the State of NC for development containing such a large amount of acreage.  We are very positive about the potential development for this site and will continue to work hard to bring the needed jobs to Concord and Cabarrus County.

Team Concord continues to work hard each day to provide the highest level of service to you and our City.  If you see areas for needed improvement, reach out to us and let us know.  If you see one of our Team members doing a great job, please consider recognizing them with a High 5 by visiting our website concordnc.gov/High5 or calling the High 5 hotline at 704-920-6400. Thank you for your ongoing contributions to our City – may Concord always thrive for you!