Robbins Town Commissioner Clifton F. Marley is resigning from the board effective noon Thursday.

Marley cited time constraints as the reason for the resignation in an e-mail to the town.

"I have been trying to keep doing too many different kinds of things for some time, and I have finally had to recognize that this is affecting the quality of my attention, deliberation and health," Marley said in the e-mail, "so I am refocusing and letting go of some of the things I can. I am glad to have had the opportunity to contribute and hope that my efforts have helped more than they have hurt.

"I continue to hope for the best for the people of our town and community."

In his time as a commissioner, Marley was known as a stickler for proper procedure and for linking with former Commissioner Mark Garner in spurring a thorough reworking of town ordinances and procedures that the rest of the board supported.

Garner stepped down from the board when his term expired last year after deciding to withdraw his bid for re-election. The commissioners appointed Claire Matthew to fill the vacant seat at their December meeting.

Marley's legal ex-perience often enabled him to bring a sharper focus to possible issues that others on the board say they appreciated. All that additional discussion in minute detail took time, and the length of monthly board meetings grew noticeably after Marley joined the board.

He said he liked to be sure that anything that could be called into question would be thoroughly discussed and resolved openly during board meetings.

Marley grew up in Robbins and graduated from North Moore High School, where he wrote a column for the student newspaper. He lives in the middle of town with his upstairs office downtown on Middleton Street.

Marley's seat on the board will remain vacant at least a month. According to town rules of procedure, the Town Board must announce its intent to vote to fill a vacancy in an open meeting at least 30 days beforehand. That announcement could be made during Thursday's session. An item regarding the vacant seat has been added to the agenda as the first order of new business.

A vote of the board to select a replacement for Marley will have to be advertised at least two weeks before the commissioners pick his successor. Any registered Robbins voter who is otherwise eligible to hold office can apply or be nominated.

Applications and nominations must be made in writing and filed with the town clerk during regular business hours a week or more ahead of that session. At that time, commissioners vote on all candidates with the one receiving a majority being appointed to the board.

Marley's departure was unexpected. He could not be reached for comment.

Contact John Chappell at (910) 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.