DOBSON — With less than one year left in his four-year term, Stan Newman, a Dobson town commissioner, resigned yesterday to better fulfill his new position as a local ordinance officer with the county.

Newman, 32, who has served on the Dobson Town Board since 2005, turned in his letter of resignation Thursday afternoon which stated that he had accepted a position with the county as its local ordinance officer and thought it to be a conflict of interest if he continued his role as a commissioner. His position of commissioner, which is a four-year term, ends in December.

“I have determined that my new responsibilities as a Local Ordinance Officer are not consistent with being a Town Commissioner,” he said in the letter he presented at Dobson Town Hall. “Because part of my job duties will be enforcing zoning ordinances in the town, I am afraid that too often there would be a perception that I had a conflict of interest between my job and my role as an elected official. If I am to be judged fairly, I cannot do both.”

Newman’s resignation is effective Jan. 11, and he will begin his work with the county Jan. 12.

In a phone interview Thursday, Newman said he was proud of his work with the board. He said he felt the board had overcome many challenges in Dobson to better the life of citizens and that the commissioners worked well together.

“I appreciate the town for electing me, I’ve seen a lot of positive things done in the town and I have had a good board to work with,” he said. “We built a good working relationship with the county, expanded water possibilities, we had additions to the fire department like a new fire truck, (we) implemented an occupancy tax, (we) had water and sewer connections to I-77, (and) became involved with NC STEP.”

During his term, Newman said the board also hired Lynn Burcham as town manager, gained big support for a liquor-by-the-drink referendum, even though it didn’t pass, and signed a resolution with Mount Airy for a water connection for those living in the Piney Grove area.

In accepting this new position, Newman will also no longer work as a 911 telecommunicator for Surry County. He said his new position with the county will offer a new challenge and a new way to use his talents.

“This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am 100-percent totally committed to working in this new job. Being a local ordinance officer will be hard work, but it offers new challenges and will be rewarding way for me to use my talents and experience, not to mention being able to devote more time to my church and family,” he said in his letter.

In February 2008, the Dobson Town Board agreed on a policy in which the board wait 60 days to fill board vacancies, and during that time compile a list of names for consideration to fill such positions. However, the position is not limited to only the individuals suggested, a town hall representative said yesterday.

Mayor Ricky Draughn said Tuesday he could not say for certain whether the board would work immediately to fill the vacancy or wait until the November elections for an outcome.

He said it was likely to be a topic of discussion at the board’s next meeting on Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.