NEWS

 

Tuesday night’s Town Board Meeting took an unexpected turn, and it had nothing to do with the crazy weather.

As the final item of business, Mayor Knox reported that the board had received a letter of resignation from Matthew Dellinger, dated January 9. Matthew Dellinger was not present at the meeting. Mayor Knox read the resignation letter (text provided below) aloud in its entirety at the public meeting.

The letter stated that Dellinger and his family will be moving from Davidson to a new residence in Davidson’s Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). To serve as elected officials in North Carolina,  those who are elected must be eligible to vote in the jurisdiction in which they will serve. Residents of Davidson’s ETJ are not tax-paying residents in the town limits, and thus cannot vote in the town’s elections or serve as officers of the town.

Dellinger, who has served as a board member since 2021, was reelected recently to his second term. Prior to becoming an elected official, Dellinger served on the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment – including time as the Chair of the Board.

After reading Dellinger’s resignation letter, Mayor Knox then turned to Town Attorney Karen Wolter to review the procedure for filling a vacancy on the town board. Wolter explained that the relevant state statute holds that the “board should appoint somebody to take the position of a vacant seat on the board. Anybody you appoint would hold that seat for the remainder of the term.”

Attorney Wolter further explained that, while the state statute does not provide a defined procedure for how to fill a vacant seat, there is a relevant nominating process. The nominating process includes creating a nominating committee to review potential nominees and provide a report back to the full board. Any commissioner could then nominate additional citizens, and there would be an opportunity for debate and discussion. The board would then hold a roll call vote. The newly appointed commissioner would serve out the remainder of the unexpired 23-25 term vacated by Dellinger.

Mayor Knox announced that he is recommending that the nominating committee consist of Mayor Pro Tempore Autumn Michael, Commissioner Ryan Fay, and himself.

There is no statutory deadline for completing the nomination process, but Mayor Knox reiterated the need to move forward efficiently. He hopes to have the process completed and be able to swear in a new commissioner within a few weeks.

After a motion by Commissioner Justus, the board voted unanimously to approve Mayor Knox’s recommendation.

Mayor Knox encouraged any townspeople interested in serving as board commissioner to contact the board by emailing [email protected]. Mayor Knox said that qualified candidates will have demonstrated leadership abilities by serving on town boards and commissions, completing the Town’s Civics 101 course, or through active involvement in area non-profit organizations.

Commissioner Fay recognized Dellinger for his service on the board and as a friend, saying that Dellinger had been “the greatest sounding board.” Fay noted Dellinger’s amazing resume, first as a Davidson student, to his service on town boards, and finally to his excellent work as a town commissioner. Mayor Knox heartily agreed with Commissioner Fay and noted that he fully expected that the board would recognize Dellinger’s service at a future meeting.

Text of Dellinger’s letter:

Dear Mayor Knox,

I am writing to confirm my resignation as commissioner with the Town of Davidson, effective immediately. Serving and working with fellow citizens and staff for the past seven years, first on the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment and most recently on the Board of Commissioners, has truly been a privilege and honor for me, and I will remain grateful for this chapter in my life.

As I have previously shared with you and the Board, my wife and I purchased property in the Town’s ETJ in 2022 with the intention of eventually moving and raising our two sons there. We delayed our move, I continued to serve the Town, and we were planning to delay it further. However, when multiple variables unexpectedly changed for us in the past couple of months, we ultimately decided to focus on what is best for our family by going ahead with the move earlier than previously intended.

We are understandably excited about what lies ahead for our family. At the same time, I will miss serving the Town and working alongside remarkable colleagues and friends to challenge ourselves to meet the rightfully high bar our community sets. I am confident a well-suited successor awaits to take my place and encourage the Board to act promptly to fill the vacancy, as I look forward to seeing the Town continue to take great strides and pursue actions that will further enrich the whole community.

To you and the Board, thank you for understanding and respecting this decision. If any questions arise or if there is anything I can ever do to assist the Town or any of you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me. Finally, I offer a sincere thank you to the citizens of Davidson for their support and confidence in allowing me to represent them. It is indeed a humbling gift.

Sincerely,

Matthew C. Dellinger