Spencer swears in new alderman, selects interim town manager

Published 11:17 pm Wednesday, June 12, 2019

SPENCER — Still dealing with fallout from the resignation of former Town Manager Terrance Arrington, the Spencer Board of Aldermen filled two leadership positions Tuesday with the swearing in of Alderman Rashid Muhammad and the selection of an interim town manager, David Treme.

The swearing-in took place at the beginning of Tuesday’s regular Board of Aldermen meeting. The interim town manager was selected after nearly an hour of closed-session discussion, which took place mid-meeting.

Alderman Mike Boone made the motion to select Treme. The motion carried unanimously among those present. Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Hovis was not at the meeting.

Treme will serve as interim town manager for a rate of $60 per hour, said Mayor Jim Gobbel.

Meanwhile, Muhammad was sworn in by Rowan District Court Judge Marshall Bickett. Muhammad is filling a position occupied by Howard White for four months. White served from January to April and resigned. Before that, Kevin Jones had filled the slot, but he left the position after being elected to the Rowan-Salisbury school board.

In an interview with the Post on Wednesday, Gobbel said the town looks forward to working with Muhammad.

And Treme said in a voice mail to the Post that he is delighted for the opportunity to be the new interim town manager. Treme said he thinks he can help the town accomplish the goals it has set out.

The goals include working on neighborhood revitalization through new state grants, finding appropriate new staff, dealing with the impact of the new Chewy facility, and pursuing the ongoing Park Plaza project, which will become the town’s new municipal complex, Treme said.

The town is fortunate to have someone with Treme’s experience, Gobbel said. Treme will help the town move forward, he said.

Treme’s career includes city manager jobs in Mooresville and in Salisbury from 1986 to 2011. The Mooresville Tribune reported in February that Treme abruptly announced his retirement after a two-hour closed meeting.

In other business:

• The board decided to have another Food Truck Friday on July 19. At the last one, 900 people attended, said Town Clerk Brittaney Skye in a presentation to the board.

• A representative of the Centralina Council of Governments, Bobby Williams, gave a presentation, saying that the agency can offer assistance to the town as it searches for a permanent town manager.

• The town will have a budget workshop Tuesday that’s open to the public.

Contact reporter Samuel Motley at 704-797-4264.