Front Royal zoning director resigns

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Details on the investigation of incident related to departure kept under wraps

By Ben Orcutt -- borcutt@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- Authorities are not releasing the details of a police investigation regarding an incident related to the resignation of Andrew J. Conlon Jr. as the town's director of zoning and planning.

"There was an incident reported to the Front Royal Police Department and the incident is still under investigation," Police Chief Richard H. Furr said Tuesday. "It was reported to us on Nov. 6."

Furr would not comment on the details of the incident.

"It's still under investigation," Furr said.

Town Manager J. Michael Graham announced during Monday's Town Council meeting that Conlon resigned on Friday, the same day the incident was reported to the police.

"He's going on for other opportunities," Graham said Tuesday, without elaborating about what led to Conlon's resignation.

Conlon, who started his position with the town on May 5 of last year, could not be reached for comment. He was hired to succeed Nimet R. Soliman, who retired from the post, effective May 1, 2008. Conlon has over 20 years of experience in the field, including working in Culpeper, Leesburg, Loudoun County, and more recently, Woodstock, Timberville and Toms Brook.

Conlon has a bachelor of arts degree from the School of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech and is accredited through the American Institute of Certified Planners, Engineers Surveyors Institute, and the Virginia Board of Zoning Appeals.

Reaction was mixed among Town Council members on Tuesday regarding Conlon's resignation.

"I'm disappointed that Andy resigned, but I'm sure that it's for the best for him and the town," Vice Mayor Bret W. Hrbek said. "That was a decision left up to him and the town manger, and I have to trust the town manger's decisions on personnel. I wish Andy the best."

Like his colleagues, Councilman Carson C. Lauder Jr. did not want to comment on the circumstances surrounding Conlon's resignation.

"I think the folks and staff [in planning and zoning] are extremely capable of keeping things running and with the other departments pulling together, we can get through this until we gather our facts and look at things through fresh eyes," Lauder said. "What we have to do is take a look at our priorities, the Front Royal Limited Partnership [rezoning request] out there on Happy Creek Road and also the solar farm, as well as other projects."

Councilman Thomas E. Conkey said Conlon's resignation leaves a void.

"He's gonna be sorely missed," Conkey said. "It was quite a surprise to all of us when he did resign. He was good guy, a hard worker and made good contributions."

Mayor Eugene R. Tewalt said he too was surprised by Conlon's resignation.

"It came as a shock," Tewalt said. "I don't know enough to talk about it. There's been a lot of rumors, but I don't like to repeat rumors."

When asked if Conlon was forced to resign, Tewalt said, "I can't respond to that."

Councilman Thomas H. Sayre, a local attorney, had a different take on Conlon's resignation, without being specific.

"I was not shocked as some were, but I am very disappointed in what happened," Sayre said. "However, I feel his resignation was an appropriate response."