Assistant County Manager Allison Dandar Melvin and Emergency Medical Services Director Barry Britt submitted their resignations Wednesday. County Manager W. David McNeill Jr. said he accepted their abrupt departures with reluctance.
Melvin’s husband, Alan Melvin, a Highway Patrol trooper assigned to the governor’s security staff in Raleigh, filed a lawsuit against Britt in Moore County Superior Court Tuesday, alleging alienation of affection.
The suit charges that Britt has dated Allison Melvin in public places, placed calls, e-mails and pages to her home in Southern Pines, and influenced her “to break her marriage covenant.”
The complaint says that, as a result of Britt’s actions, the plaintiff “lost the comfort, support, affection, protection and genuine love of his wife.” The complaint also says Britt’s actions “were without legal excuse and were done willfully, intentionally, wantonly and with reckless disregard to the rights of the plaintiff.”
Another lawsuit filed by Alan Melvin was sealed Wednesday.
McNeill said that he has appointed Steadman Meares as interim director of the Department of Emergency Services. He said that the county remains in a semi-hiring freeze because of the weak economy. For this reason, McNeill said he and Deputy County Manager Michael C. Griffin would share Melvin’s responsibilities, which include those of personnel director.
“Moore County government is losing two valuable members of our management team,” McNeill told The Pilot Thursday morning.
Alan Melvin, who is represented by Southern Pines attorney Katharine MacLeod, is seeking compensatory damage in excess of $10,000 and punitive damage in excess of $10,000 on each of two claims for relief.
The Pilot was unable to reach any of the parties for comment.
Britt’s resignation is effective Jan. 21, but McNeill said the EMS director is taking this week off from work.
The county manager said that Britt was scheduled for surgery late this week.
Allison Melvin’s resignation is effective Jan. 29, but she is taking the remaining time off as sick leave.
The statement by Allison Melvin, delivered by Carthage attorney Arthur Blue, says: “I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the wonderful people of Moore County for the last 13 years. I have decided that I am going to pursue other career opportunities in the private sector.”
Blue told The Pilot that he is a family friend of Allison Melvin. He said that her father died about two weeks ago and that she was taking her mother, who does not drive, to the doctor Thursday.
In her letter of resignation, Melvin told McNeill that she wants to pursue other professional career options and she might return to school to obtain another graduate degree.
“I am looking forward to having the opportunity to seek a new career direction and further my knowledge and professional skills,” she wrote.
Britt’s letter likewise says that he has enjoyed working for the county and that he plans to pursue “other career opportunities.”
Her letter was dated Jan. 17, and his letter was dated Jan. 16.
In comments to The Pilot, McNeill praised both Britt and Melvin.
“I sincerely appreciate the role that Mr. Britt performed in organizing and administering the county Emergency Medical Services program,” McNeill said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Mr. Britt during both normal operations and other events, such as hurricanes and snowstorms, and have admired his performance.
“Ms. Melvin was a valuable member of my management staff and has provided leadership in a number of areas.”
McNeill added that he wishes success to both Melvin and Britt “in their future endeavors.”
Melvin joined the Moore County staff in August 1988 as a planner in the Planning Department. At that time she was a recent graduate of Campbell University with a master’s degree in business.
In 1989, she was appointed clerk to the Moore County Board of Commissioners. In June 1994, she was named assistant county manager in charge of personnel. Her salary at the time of her resignation was $63,223.
Britt, who came to Moore County from the Guilford County EMS program, assumed the EMS director’s position Dec. 3, 1990.
At that time, Moore County was launching its first countywide EMS program, after a positive vote by the electorate advising the commissioners of support for a five-cent property tax to pay for an advanced life support system.
“He started the program from scratch,” McNeill said.
In 1994, Britt was promoted to the position of director of emergency services, which included such things as emergency management and E-911 as well as emergency medical services. His annual salary was $60,533.
