ABOVE: Tilton mayor David Phillips, far left, poses during March groundbreaking for Parkway Dispensaries along Georgetown Road.
After a career with the Village of Tilton that goes back to the 70s, Mayor David Phillips is officially retiring at the end of May, just prior to his 65th birthday in June. Phillips says, after all his time in Tilton as public works director, as the fire chief, EMS director, a police officer, you name it; this is pretty much what he had in mind to wrap it all up.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: I’ve worked for the city since 1977. I started out at $3.25 an hour, my starting wage was in 1977, as public works director. My deal was, I was planning on retiring at the age of 65. So my birthday’s June 5th, so May 31st will be my last day.
After far as his replacement goes, Phillips says senior Village Board member Billy Wear would be next in line , but we’ll see what happens. He could be mayor and stay on the board, but he’d still only have one vote.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: The option is he can sit as mayor and be a board member; or the board can say he can be the mayor, and he’s going to have to appoint someone to his seat.
Director of Cannabis Development for Offutt Development Marshall Lionti, Tilton mayor David Phillips, Sr; Developer Paul Offutt, Parkway Dispensaries CEO Ambrose Jackson, and Parkway Vice-President of Facilities Jim Reilly pose during the Parkway Dispensaries groundbreaking in March, in front of True Grit Fitness on the east side of Georgetown Road in Tilton.
Phillips says he’ll look back on a lot of growth during his time in Tilton. In March he was out on Georgetown Road for the Parkway Dispensaries groundbreaking. He says, there’s still one more surprise coming.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: And actually we have another business, not named right now but it’ll be named here in the future. Another restaurant chain coming to town.
Phillips was first elected Tilton mayor in 2001, and elected for the last time in 2021.
