City manager had higher commission
Twenty years ago, I moved to Salisbury and have witnessed the changes that have taken place in downtown as well as the city proper under the leadership of our “TREME-nduous” city manager. The transformation has been awesome.
A year ago I opened “Faye’s on main” in the 100 block of North Main with fear and trepidation considering the economy downturn. One Saturday morning, David Treme wandered in to check out the new shop, having been sent by Kirk at “Tastebuds,” where he had been taking a coffee break. He was dressed in a comfortable old sweatshirt, like most men on weekends, and I did not know him from Adam’s housecat, but he seemed to like my furniture shop. He said that he and his wife were doing some remodeling and he liked a couple of pieces. I suggested that he might take a piece home to see if it was right before he committed to it. Realizing that I didn’t know him, I casually (or so I thought) asked him if he lived in Salisbury, and he said, “Oh yes, just a few blocks away.”
He then looked at me knowingly, and said, “I’m David Treme, I’ve been the city manager for almost 25 years, so I’ll return.”
I thought, “All right, Mr. Treme, take the rest of the shop if you want.”
I have since met his family whom I have come to love and respect as the wonderful people they are. He has prayed over my shop and family when they were floundering and he along with his wife, Karen, have always been encouraging.
There are individuals who walk among us, often unperceived, possessing a higher “commission” on their lives than the rest of us. David is such a person, whose calling is to be “God’s Man, for Salisbury.” Rest assured that his plotted course and long-range decisions have been made after much prayer and deliberation for the good of the merchants and citizens.
The absence of his leadership will be a great loss to Salisbury. Our prayers go with him along with undying gratitude for his service. As he told me when first we met, he’ll be close-by when needed.
— Faye T. Holder
Salisbury