By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — Interim Town Administrator F.E. Isenhour resigned Friday night during a called meeting of the East Spencer Board of Aldermen.

The board met for nearly an hour and at one point called Isenhour into the board room. He left after a brief conversation, escorted by Police Chief Sharon Hovis, and returned with a letter in hand.

The letter read: “I would like to thank you for the opportunity to have worked for the town of East Spencer. Per the Board of Aldermen’s request, I am submitting my resignation from the position of acting town administrator for the town of East Spencer effectively immediately. Again, thank you for the time that you allowed me to share in the work with the town of East Spencer. I know the future is bright.”

Isenhour became interim administrator in December 2016 after David Jaynes resigned after 15 months on the job. Isenhour had been the town planner since 2014.

Isenhour said after Friday’s meeting that he felt the move coming and that his resignation was not one-sided.

“There are times when you want to go in a different direction,” he said.

Mayor Barbara Mallett, when asked if there was a specific reason for Isenhour’s resignation, echoed Isenhour’s statement and said the board wanted to go in a different direction.

Asked whether he was prepared for a request to resign, Isenhour said working for local government, particularly a small town, “you’re always prepared.”

He said there were times he regretted having to get up in the morning to go to work. Isenhour said he loves the people he worked with, but it is time to move on.

“They are on a good trajectory and I am thankful for the time I had with them,” Isenhour said.

In December 2000, Isenhour was hired as town administrator in Landis. He was terminated a few years later even though some board members at the time disagreed with the decision.

Before that, he served as Landis’ personnel manager and finance officer. He also was town manager of Lillington and worked for a number of years in the Cabarrus County zoning office.

East Spencer has had a number of town administrators in recent years. Macon Sammons Jr. stepped down from the job in 2015 to become grants and special projects coordinator. Sammons was hired in 2011 after the manager before him, Donnie Jones, left in the spring of 2010 for medical reasons.

Jones was hired in December 2009 with little experience serving as a town manager. Richard Hunter was hired and fired in May 2009 after the town board said it wanted someone more accessible. Hunter had commuted from Durham for four years.

Isenhour said he still wants to work, but for now, he will look into future employment and volunteering.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.