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The Red Cross Town Council named a new interim planning and zoning officer while also announcing plans to list two job openings.

At an emergency meeting of the town council Monday, former Oakboro town commissioner Mike Efird was named as the town’s interim planning and zoning officer and town planner.

Efird has served as the planning and zoning officer for Oakboro for the last three years. Before that, he was active for many years on the planning board for the town, starting in 1995. Efird also chaired the planning and zoning board for Oakboro for approximately 10 years.

“I am helping Red Cross for the next 60 days until they have a chance to interview and hire a full-time planner,” Efird said.

The council also agreed to list job openings for a full-time position of town clerk/town administrator, along with a new planning and zoning officer.

Mayor Kelly Brattain said the town’s current administrator, Aloma Whitley, would be retiring at the end of June after 12 years in the position.

Councilman Melvin Poole expressed concerns about the short time between listing the town clerk job and Whitley’s planned retirement.

“You’re going to have to have some interview time,” Poole said.

“Our goal would be to have some overlap with Aloma,” Councilman Andrew Smith said, “at least two weeks, if not more, if possible. As you said, we are pushed for time.”

Town attorney Jim Phillips said the council may need to appoint an interim town administrator.

After a closed session, the council came back into session to approve Efird and choose to list the job openings.