Deputy Director of Recreation and Maintenance Don Holley will step down from his position as of Friday, Aug. 21, according to his resignation letter.

"I would like to thank Rockdale County for the opportunity to serve its citizens over the past 10 years," Holley wrote in the Aug. 3 letter, which gave no reason for his departure.

Holley, who oversaw the Parks and Recreation division, earned $64,563 and will not be receiving severance pay since this was a voluntary resignation, according to Deputy Director of Public Affairs Holly Lafontaine.

A hiring freeze was instituted in June but department heads can come to the Commission Chairman Richard Oden with special hiring requests, said Lafontaine.  Recreation and Maintenance Director David Smith might look at reevaluating the department. "Now that someone in management is leaving, he wants to make the best decision," she said.

As of July there were 44 vacancies among 515 positions under the jurisdiction of the Chairman in the 2009 budget.