Perkins Moving Out of Granite Quarry, Resigning as Mayor

GRANITE QUARRY - Mayor Richard Perkins, who has served on the Granite Quarry Board of Alderman since 1991, is resigning effective Nov. 30.

In a draft of a letter he plans to send to town residents, Perkins said he and his wife, Marie, have sold their home on East Kerns Street and are moving into a rental house in Salisbury while they build a new home in Salisbury.

"As many of you know," Perkins wrote, "my Granite Quarry home has been for sale and recently was sold. The couple who purchased it has asked to move in for Christmas. A rental home on Main Street we had hoped to rent is no longer available. The result is that we now will rent in Salisbury, until our new home is completed in mid-1999.

"According to the Institute of Government in Chapel Hill, the day I move (Nov. 30) is the day I lose eligibility to remain as an alderman or as mayor of the town. I truly have enjoyed serving as your elected official ..."

This morning, Perkins, who is executive vice president of the Salisbury-Rowan Merchants Association, said the remaining aldermen will pick someone to fill his vacancy at a special meeting, most likely the week of Nov. 30.

He said he's not aware of anyone who has expressed an interest, since the circumstances of his resignation changed so suddenly.

Perkins first won a seat on the town board in 1991 and a second term in 1995. Board members choose the town mayor and elected Perkins to that position in 1996.

In his draft letter, Perkins said, "I am happy to report the Town of Granite Quarry is in solid financial condition. At the beginning of my first year as mayor (1996), our 'fund balance' or savings was $459,085. In July of 1997, the 'fund balance' grew to $741,443. The balance as of July 1998 was in excess of one million dollars at $1,009,389.

"A real effort has been made by the board and my administration to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money. Everyone has worked hard and the results are evident."