While many residents in Summerfield are dismayed by the fact that all full-time town staff have submitted their resignations, one Summerfield Town Councilmember, Jonathan Hamilton, sees this as a chance for the town to start fresh and finally get the small town on the right track.
Hamilton put out a press release of his own soon after all of the town’s full-time staff announced that they were resigning over the way Summerfield Town Manager Scott Whitaker was being shown the exit door.
“While I believe the resignations were at least in part politically motivated, I see this as a great opportunity for Summerfield,” Hamilton wrote in a statement he released on Sunday night, May 19 – the same night the town staff announced its resignation. “With our current town manager’s contract ending soon, we will be able to hire a new town manager that can start fresh. This transition will allow that manager to carefully assemble a dedicated team committed to serving Summerfield, while also forming a cohesive staff that is essential for effective governance. I believe this is going to position our town for success.”
Hamilton, in his statement also addressed another elephant in Summerfield’s room, one that played a big role in the tensions that eventually led the town to this dramatic point. The town leaders and town residents have been in a battle over whether developer David Couch should be allowed to build a residential and mixed-use development in Summerfield.
Currently, the NC General Assembly is considering whether or not Couch should be allowed to de-annex the roughly 1,000 acres where he wants to put the project.
“During this transition,” Hamilton wrote, “I want the General Assembly to know that our town is still unified in our fight against de-annexation. I especially want the people of Summerfield to know that my commitment to serving our residents remains unwavering and that I’m proud of our current council. Lynne Devaney’s tireless efforts, Heath Clay’s genuine interest in all aspects of the town, and Janelle Robinson’s inquisitive nature – all contribute to effective representation of our residents.”
Hamilton went on to state that the town has a lot going for it and the fresh start for the residents of Summerfield makes him optimistic about the future.
It also sounds like the council already has some people in mind to fill the many vacancies.
“We have such a wonderful and supportive community here in Summerfield,” he wrote. “I’ve already had multiple citizens volunteer to step in as we move forward, and I am confident that our town won’t miss a beat. I am grateful for our residents and ask that we continue to stand united in working together for the betterment of Summerfield.”
And the self-serving, self-important “public servants” who precipitated this petulant protest will soon realise how irrelevant and unnecessary they always were.
Summerfield grew and prospered for centuries without them.
And no mention of the other elephant in the room- the fact that vehement protest to change and growth of any kind has led to such a despotic air of selfishness that it even overcomes the care of a cancer patient and survival of a colleague’s wife. This is an example of how selfishness in our local politicians and unwillingness to change overcomes basic American decency.
What a delusional interpretation of what happened and what is fixing to happen to Summerfield. That all but insured the fact that at least 1000 acres of Summerfield will now be 1000 acres of Greensboro. The Republican lead legislator doesn’t play these kinds of games. Let’s see how things work out when a large potential tax base just disappeared.
Town Councilmember Hamilton is exactly right. The cesspool in Summerfield has been flushed!
Hamilton sounds like a Biden – what a spin from the group of four incompetents. Who would want to work in Summerfield. Good luck in finding a town manager or any staff. Maybe the four can just run the town themselves. Why hire any staff with all the brittance shown by the four?
Mr. Hamilton’s rosey outlook is like saying that tornado cleared away the house and trees so we don’t have to. The damage to the reputation and confidence of the citizens is a real factor. He and the gang of four I’m sure have people in the wings to jump in and help, the same people that have been disruptive and a thorn in the town in the past. Hamilton is a lawyer, he should know the legislature could not only deannex but could actually unincorporate the town. While Hamilton tries to paint a rosey picture, today long serving volunteers resigned because of the caustic environment the gang of four has brought to our town. Own it Hamilton, you guys have messed up.
Sounds like Hamilton is making a “backdoor” deal with Berger? IS Hamilton one who states one thing on one side of his mouth while stating on the other side of his mouth?
Betting the DEI supporters are salivating.
Yeah! It’s surely going to help recruitment of good candidates to see this example of the environment they are getting into.
I am not sure Summerfield has “grown and prospered for centuries.” In 1990 the population was about 2,000 and by 2010 it was about 10,000, which is close to the current estimate of 11,000. So from the 1700s to 1990, it wasn’t much of a town. In other words, the vast majority of Summerfield residents didn’t show up until after 1990. And, appears to me many of them are from the NIMBY tribe. Also, it seems to me that Hamilton is the petulant character. With all of his legal and banking background, you would thing he may know how to work with Couch, but my so far, it looks like he is playing with fire.
Meanwhile for those keeping score at home…we are days away from WW3 and thermonuclear war.
Just sayin.
Has there ever been a de-annexation case submitted as a local act of the NC General Assembly on behalf of one individual? What is the intent of the de-annexation statute? Does the statute provide for the arrogance of one individual to be allowed to change the boundaries of a small town for profit? One individual, without the vote of Summerfield residents? Regardless of the reason Couch is looking for and paying for through political donations preferential treatment, there must be a vote by the residents of Summerfield to decide if de-annexation is agreed upon. De-annexation was never intended to allow one individual to alter a small town such as this de-annexation does. Common sense needs to be applied in the NC General Assembly when voting on a de-annexation case, especially this one. There is no provision to prevent the question from being placed on a local ballot. Why not require that a vote be placed on a Summerfield ballot in November before a GA vote? There is nothing in the de-annexation statute that prevents this. Summerfield should be allowed to say no to de-annexation. If the question of this local act is approved by the GA, the results should be published for all to see to assure that those who voted “yes” are not elected for dog catcher.
The General Assembly just need to revoke the Town’s Charter and be done with it.
You sound like a real estate broker salivating at the prospect of enriching yourself at the expense of others. Typical.