Lilburn city councilman Thomas Wight’s Facebook page says he is working to make the city “an ideal place to live and raise a family.”
But starting in April, the councilman will take a hike from those responsibilities, trading in his votes on city ordinances and resolutions for a six-month trek across Pacific Crest Trail — 2,600 miles on foot through California, Oregon and Washington.
Wight said he’s been training for months, and it is the right time in his life to go for it.
“I’m not getting any younger, and I’ve wanted to do this for a long, long time,” Wight said. “I figured now is as good a time as any. I’m in a place where I can set down my law practice for six months.”
When asked about his job of attending to city business, Wight said he won’t miss much because the city has already taken care of its biggest issue, setting priorities for this fall’s county-wide Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax vote.
“In the summertime, usually there’s not a lot happening in Lilburn,” he said. “It’s just not that big of a deal, frankly.”
It is to some.
Hugh Wilkerson, owner of Antiques in Old Town, said Wight made a commitment to the city’s 12,000 residents and he ought to keep it.
“If that’s true, it’s not appropriate,” Wilkerson said. “You don’t just wake up one morning and say: `I’m gonna walk 2,600 miles.’”
Wilkerson’s antique shop is inside the oldest building — constructed in 1910 — still standing in the Old Town shopping district across from city hall. The small town in Gwinnett County was created in 1890 when the a railroad depot opened not to far from his shop.
Just down Main Street is Old Town Flowers, where owner Nikki Scott was equally surprised to hear one of her council members will be checking out for six months.
“Voters don’t know that. If they did, they’d want him out,” Scott said. “That’s wrong.”
And that’s what Lilburn Mayor Johnny Crist is hoping for.
Crist acknowledged that Wight offered his resignation Monday when telling colleagues about his plans, and that the other three members of the council did not take him up on the offer. But Crist said he will try to “lead the council” in changing its mind, and he hopes public outcry might help.
The city can’t force Wight’s resignation because its bylaws do not state a maximum number of meetings that can be missed by elected officials.
“We’ve got a city to plan, residents to connect with,” Crist said. “You don’t just walk away and say: `I’ll be back in six months.’ He’s being paid.”
Lilburn council members get $3,500 annually, and are paid in a lump sum in January, the mid-point of the city’s fiscal year. That means Wight has already been paid for April, May and June — the first half of his sabbatical. It is unclear if he will be required to repay that money, and if he will be paid for the first three months of the next fiscal year.
Wight said he was unaware that he received a city paycheck in January, saying his finances are handled by an accountant. He added that his city pay is donated to charity, but that he would repay his salary for the time missed if he is asked.
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