EAST SPENCER — One by one, East Spencer board members and the mayor were flanked by their families and loved ones as they were sworn into office this week.

At the top of the Monday meeting, new board members Tony Hillian and Dwayne Holmes were both sworn in as was returning board member Otis Gibson and Mayor Barbara Mallett, who won a fourth term.

Although he was the highest vote-getter, Dwayne Holmes declined the appointment as mayor pro tem, saying he wasn’t ready yet for the position. Alderman Curtis Cowan will remain mayor pro tem.

“As we approach a new year, we as board members are to make minuscule changes and input to this organization. The simple changes have the power to change a life. It can change the direction of our town board. One change, one risk, one idea, that’s all it takes,” said Mallett.

She said each board member must be 100 percent committed.

Former Alderwomen Tammy Corpening and Phronice Jonson were thanked for their service to the board.

Alderwoman Deloris High was appointed to the Transportation Advisory Committee, which is part of the Metropolitan Planning Organization. Gibson and Hillian were appointed as alternates. The members of the committee must be in elected positions.

Interim Town Administrator F.E. Isenhour was appointed to the Technical Coordinating Committee with Planner Joe Morris as an alternate.

Mallett was appointed to the Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency, a position once held by Corpening.

Hillian and Holmes said they may not always vote the same as others on the board, but their hearts are with East Spencer and their goals are to make it the best place they can.

In other business:

• Phase 1 of the environmental inspections for the Brownfields grant has been completed. The Dunbar Center is one property that is being looked at to see how it can be cleaned and possibly developed. The center was destroyed in a 2014 fire.

The football part of the property is up for sale, but as of November, no offer has been presented to a Realtor. If the property were transferred to a new owner, it would be eligible for a Phase 2 environmental inspection, which may allow for the removal of fuel tanks on the property. There are no known environmental concerns about the property.

• The Community Development Block Grant water and sewer project has begun on Choate Road. The next part of road scheduled for work is Correll Street and the replacement of some lines on Boundary and Second streets.

Since Correll Street is extremely narrow, traffic flow will be affected.

• The board received an offer of land donation from Luke Fisher and Daniel Fisher of Fisher Realty. The four parcels on Boundary Street include a rental house at 704 Boundary St. The land is for part of the proposed Carolina Thread Trail. The land is valued at $209,320.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.