By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
EAST SPENCER — The town of East Spencer hired a new administrator Monday, ending a search that took more than a year.
After meeting in closed session, the Town Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the contract for Macon Sammons Jr., a former manager of Surry County.
On Sept. 13, after the board interviewed Sammons for a second time, Mayor John Cowan said he is “highly qualified” for the position.
Cowan said Sammons has been the manager of two counties in Virginia as well as Surry County, and he has more than 20 years of municipal management experience.
Former Town Manager Donnie Jones left due to medical reasons in the spring of 2010. While East Spencer looked for someone to fill the position, town Clerk Anneissa Hyde served as interim town administrator.
After hiring Sammons, the board approved two budget amendments for administration.
One moved $63,600 from the general fund reserve to the administration department, and the other reallocated $7,773.60 within the department.
In other news, East Spencer is requesting a joint study with the city of Salisbury into the possibility of transferring control of its water system to the city.
Salisbury is currently under contract to operate and maintain the town’s water and sewer system.
Aldermen voted unanimously to ask for the joint feasibility study, which would look into whether moving management of the system to Salisbury would benefit both parties.
Also at Monday’s meeting, aldermen:
• Delayed a decision about a East Spencer Police Department ride-along program after receiving a letter from the League of Municipalities.
There is no additional insurance charge for having such a program, the letter said, but the league does not recommend it for safety reasons.
• Approved Powell Bill bids from A1 Smith Asphalt to patch or pave several streets for $25,700.
• Amended the budget to allow the purchase of polo shirts with logos for the East Spencer Fire Department.
To cover the amount that was not budgeted, $108.27 was transferred from small equipment to uniforms.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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