By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — Town Administrator David Jaynes is out after less than 15 months on the job. Town officials say he resigned following last Monday’s board meeting.

The Post inquired whether this was a forced resignation or if Jaynes, 33, voluntarily resigned. Interim Administrator F.E. Isenhour said after the Dec. 5 board meeting, Jaynes made the decision to resign.

The board did discuss this during last Monday’s executive session, Isenhour said. He added the decision was made during the meeting and Jaynes was in on part of the meeting.

Macon Sammons Jr., the previous town administrator, stepped down in March 2015  after nearly four years to become the grants and special projects coordinator. He 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 in serving as town manager. Prior to his arrival, Richard Hunter was hired and fired in May 2009 after the town said they wanted someone more accessible. Hunter had commuted to and from Durham for four years.

Isenhour said after the Monday meeting he received a phone call informing him he’d been appointed as the interim. Isenhour has administrator experience although he’s not served as administrator for the town of East Spencer. He has served as manager and administrator for other towns.

He said there is no set timeline as of yet to find a permanent replacement, but he can assure the residents that the projects that Jaynes had been working on will continue.

Isenhour and Jaynes had worked hand-in-hand on many of the projects. Isenhour will continue to work on those town projects, he said.

Jaynes did not comment on the terms of his resignation, but he did say he appreciated the opportunity that East Spencer gave him.

“I wish them the best on all its endeavors. I got to see how a small town operates and wish the best for East Spencer. I look forward to hearing great things from East Spencer,” he said.

Jaynes also thanked all of his department heads, “who really helped me out during my time there,” he said, as they were “working within the limited constraints they were given.”

Throughout the last decade, the town has lost not only administrators, but a number of police and fire chiefs have resigned, were terminated or dismissed.

See Wednesday’s Post for more details.