SALISBURY – Assistant City Manager John Sofley will retire effective Dec. 29, the city said Thursday.

This year marks his 30th year as a Salisbury employee.

Last year, City Manager Lane Bailey increased Sofley’s responsibilities to include oversight of the public services and Salisbury-Rowan Utilities departments. He also manages transit, telecommunications and Fibrant video programming services contracts.

With some of his departments’ larger projects in the final stretch — including the recycling contract change and installation of advanced water meters — Sofley felt that the time is right to retire, a city statement said.

“I have immensely enjoyed working for the city of Salisbury,” Sofley said in the statement. “I have always worked hard to make a difference here because Salisbury is my hometown. As I look at our beautiful city, I can see where my efforts have made a difference. I have begun planning for my next chapter, which will include working with community organizations to continue to improve Salisbury.”

Bailey praised Sofley’s tenure.

“John Sofley has been an integral part of the Salisbury family throughout his 30-year tenure,” said Bailey. “John has always been willing to share his business and financial experience on a variety of issues over the years. His institutional knowledge and insight will be sorely missed as he embarks upon his future as a retiree. We will always value his service.”

Sofley was hired in 1987 as the city’s finance director before being tapped as an assistant city manager for Fibrant, infrastructure services and related departments in 2011.

In addition to his professional work, he is a past president of the Salisbury Civitan Club and an area director for the North Carolina District West Civitan. He has served on the executive boards of the North Carolina Association of CPAs and the Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada. He was past president of the N.C. Government Finance Officers Association.

Local community groups he has served include the tourism board, Downtown Salisbury Inc., Piedmont Players, and Center for Faith and the Arts.