Three weeks after he was appointed, the newest member of the Valdese Town Council has resigned.
Roger Heavner resigned from the Ward 2 seat, effective immediately, Valdese Mayor Charlie Watts said at Monday's pre-agenda board meeting. Heavner was not at the meeting. He delivered a letter of resignation to the town on Tuesday that said he also is resigning from the council鈥檚 Facilities Review Committee.
Heavner was appointed to the board on Oct. 7 to finish out the term of Paul Mears, who resigned the same day because he moved out of town. Mears鈥� term will expire next year.
On Tuesday, Heavner said he resigned because of the negativity surrounding the board.
鈥淚 was collateral damage,鈥� Heavner said. 鈥淭hey hated (Council Member) Glenn Harvey so bad, and they were shooting him and hitting me. That's pretty much what it amounts to.鈥�
Heavner said he joined the council for one reason, and that was to get the fire and police departments new facilities. But he couldn鈥檛 stand the negativity.
Heavner said there were some negative emails that named him that were sent out from some residents to council members. He said one email called some council members, including Heavner, minions and puppets.
鈥淭hat's pretty much what pushed me out the door,鈥� Heavner said. 鈥淚'm 75 years old. I can't waste one of the years of my life trying to fix Valdese when nobody cooperates and wants to work with you.鈥�
He said, 鈥淵esterday morning, my devotion said: 鈥楰now when to say no.鈥� I鈥檓 gonna say no.鈥�
Asked about any negative comments made to the council, Mayor Watts said, "You're subject to public opinion when you serve on an elected board.鈥�
Council Member Glenn Harvey nominated Heavner on Oct. 7 to immediately fill Mears鈥� seat. That raised questions from council member Rexanna Lowman, who said the board has always used an application process to decide on who to appoint to a vacant seat. She told Harvey that he chose Heavner as the replacement without any input from town residents and without giving anyone else a chance to apply for the seat. She later voted to appoint Heavner to the seat.
Watts said on Tuesday that how the council fills the seat again will be decided at Monday night鈥檚 regular council meeting.
Watts said the council is moving past any negativity.
鈥淲e're moving forward. We're not holding up or waiting,鈥� Watts said. 鈥淲e got too many projects that have been put off that we need to move forward on, make decisions on.鈥�