David Walker's job as the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority's executive director could be circling the drain.

The ONWASA Board of Directors is scheduled to meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. today to discuss Walker's future with the authority, said Martin Aragona Jr., Onslow County commissioner and ONWASA board member.

"I haven't spoken to anyone who has asked me about firing David Walker," he said, adding that he filled out a performance evaluation on Walker around two months ago. ONWASA employees also recently filled out a survey through the Employment Security Commission with questions about how to improve the authority's working environment.

Those the results will be discussed in the closed meeting, Aragona said.

Board member Greg Hines, a Holly Ridge town councilman, said the evaluation of Walker was "long overdue."

Hines also said he is upset that the results of the ESC survey have already been viewed by the executive committee, which is made up of Walker, ONWASA chairman and Swansboro town commissioner Jim Allen, and ONWASA board members Richlands Mayor Marvin Trott and Jacksonville City Councilman Mike Lazzara.

Allen told The Daily News on Wednesday that he knew some ONWASA board members were "advocating for Walker's dismissal for political reasons."

Board member Lionell Midgett, chairman of the Onslow County Board of Commissioners, said he knew he was "being accused of wanting to fire Walker, but it is inappropriate for me to talk about it now."

Walker declined to comment.

Allen said Walker was doing an excellent job and "anyone looking to get rid of him is barking up the wrong tree."

Walker has been ONWASA's executive director since the authority organized in 2004. He has worked as a city manager for Kinston, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach and Swansboro. While at Morehead City, Walker formed a three-county solid waste authority that included 15 towns and cities.

Walker earns $100,776 per year, according to Susan Poole, spokeswoman for ONWASA. Walker's salary when hired May 1, 2004, was $55,000.

Fran Pierce, a member of the Richlands Board of Alderman, contacted The Daily News to say she was concerned about Walker's possible termination.

"I'm not just an elected official, I pay a water bill, too," she said. "David Walker has done a tremendous job for the people in Onslow County."

Pierce said she wanted to see ONWASA members stop playing politics and work together for the good of the community.

"They are acting like a bunch of young'uns," Pierce said.

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Alva Williams said ONWASA customers should know what is going on behind the scenes and that politics should be removed from the authority's equation.

"The board should be made up of citizens and not elected officials," she said, citing the success of Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corp. as an example.

A move to allow nonelected officials to serve on the ONWASA board was deep-sixed by the City of Jacksonville last year.

A change in board membership requirements can only be adopted with a change in the authority's charter. Prior to voting on an amendment to the charter, the governing bodies that make up ONWASA - Onslow County, Jacksonville, Holly Ridge, Richlands, North Topsail Beach and Swansboro - would have to hold a public hearing.

ONWASA's regular monthly meeting will start after today's closed session. The regular meeting will include discussion of bids for work in Piney Green, Jacksonville's request of Burton Park three-way agreements and facility charges.

The meeting will be held at ONWASA's operations center at 228 Georgetown Road.

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8456. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.