Norwood Town Administrator Scott Howard will soon be leaving the town as he has accepted a new position in Ayden.

After completing a nationwide search, The Ayden Board of Commissioners selected Howard, the town announced Wednesday, according to The Daily Reflector.  Howard will start his new job May 5.

Ayden is a town of about 5,000 in Pitt County in eastern North Carolina.

The Stanly News & Press has reached out to Howard for comment.

Howard has been the town administrator in Norwood since 2019. He began his municipal career in Marshville in 2001, where he served as town clerk and chief finance officer for six years.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have him and we’ve accomplished a lot of projects during that time,” Norwood Mayor Linda Campbell said.

Campbell said she received his resignation Tuesday night, and that Howard would continue as town administrator for the next 30 days.

A committee, comprised of two town commissioners, two community members and town officials such as Police Chief James Wilson, has been formed to look for Howard’s replacement.

Campbell said an interim town administrator would be chosen in the near future. The town has already contacted a few people with previous leadership experience.

“I’m excited about what’s to come,” Campbell said, noting she is looking forward to having “some fresh eyes and some new enthusiasm.”

Howard, a graduate of Wingate University, helped Norwood revitalize its downtown with the implementation of a social district, one of the first in the state, which allows people to walk around and consume alcoholic drinks in a designated outdoor space.