Now that the Town of Summerfield is just about a week and a half away from having no manager and no town staff, those in the fray are speaking out. The mayor of Summerfield, for instance, Tim Sessoms, said that the town lost a wealth of experience that would be very hard to replace, while one councilmember said earlier this week that this mass exodus would give the town the fresh start it needed.
The entire town staff of Summerfield announced their resignation last weekend in protest of the way the Town Council terminated Town Manager Scott Whitaker – by not renewing his contract, and, at first, not giving him any severance pay. The council later voted to provide Whitaker six months’ severance pay and remain on the insurance during that time.
On Wednesday, May 22, Councilmember Heath Clay spoke out through a press release giving his take on the highly unusual set of occurrences in the small town of 11,000 people just north of Greensboro.
“Our town is not new to discord or making news headlines,” he began, which is a very true statement.
There has been more drama coming out of Summerfield over the last decade, by far, than out of any other small town in Guilford County.
“Our town has been a target from several angles, making it difficult to see who is for or against us,” he said. “The recent news and social media postings of misinformation along with its timing appear suspicious. I’m appreciative of staff efforts over the years, yet disappointed in their resignation decision.”
Clay also stated in his May 22 release that “Discussion, differences, and questions are a part of any professional business.”
He went on to assure the public that he has shown respect for and has offered assistance to the town’s staff. Clay said he wasn’t just aligned with a single person, but rather is interested in serving all residents of the town.
Others have stepped down from running the town, but he said he won’t.
“I will not quit working for the people of this town,” he stated. “Although my transition hasn’t been easy, nonetheless I’ve been diligently working through the long list of projects and challenges passed on from the prior year(s). In the few months I’ve been in office I’ve tried to support and/or remedy policy decisions. My goal has always been to do right by Summerfield.”
Many in town have been worried about the threat of roughly 1,000 acres of Summerfield being de-annexed by the state legislature in order for developer David Couch to build a large residential and mixed-use development he wants to build.
In the release, Clay states that he is now focused on de-annexation there are also other factors working against the town.
He said they should be unified in an active fight against de-annexation. He called this current moment “an unprecedented time for our beloved town of Summerfield.”
Despite that, he said he remains optimistic.
Clay concluded, “A transformation brings new avenues and prospects for citizens, developers, and legislatures alike. In the coming days I’m hopeful the existing and interim staff will work together to continue services for the people of Summerfield.”
The “transformation” should also be a red flag to any fool who would apply, that what may look like Paradise, could in fact be Purgatory.
After such ac”wordy” statement. What were you the lone non vote on the severance package for the town manager
I’ve taken some keen observations in these last few weeks of some on Summerfield Council, actually going back to 2023 election. I see these well curated press releases serving more as damage control than anything else. It’s as if Hamilton and now Clay are saying, oh no don’t believe your very own “lyin eyes” – look over here at this crafted press release – yes that’s what we want you to see and believe. If memory serves a former Press Secretary once said “a fool and his press releases are soon parted”. Mrs Robinson engages in the same juvenile behavior on social media to a degree that is comical and at times unhinged.
I have to laugh at Mr. Clay’s comment around “Summerfield becoming a target from different angles”. No Mr Clay, you’ve made yourself a target, you and the other three that have all banded together that act as a vertiable politburo. These are self inflicted wounds, not some straw man/boogeyman man that’s out to get Summerfield. The arrogance and indifference to many in the Summerfield community by four members of this current Council is appalling. When one is elected to any governing body, that individual represents all, not just the few that voted to send one there.
I really hope Summerfield can hang on and avoid losing its charter but I won’t be surprised if that is the ultimate outcome. And, there won’t be anyone else to blame but you and your three Komrades. You and the other three will give new life to the term “Gang of Four”.
Agree 100%. Hamilton came in all brash as well full of big talk. They have a lot to learn. Anybody contemplating a job for the town of Summerfield should give it a lot of thought. The unnecessary drama is far from over. Rather than try to work with Couch in good faith, it appears so far the new folks believe they can take him on directly in Raleigh trying to convince the legislature not to approve de-annexation. Good luck with that. They will have to raise taxes to fund that fight.