While Maxton Mayor Gladys Dean would have us believe that Katrina Tatum decided on the spur of the moment to quit her job Wednesday as town manager, it seems pretty clear that the town board orchestrated Tatum's departure.

What is less obvious is why.

When asked what prompted the sudden and surprise resignation, Mayor Dean tried to give the impression that Tatum had simply up and quit. The way Dean put it, one would have thought Tatum was a teenager giving up a summer job at a fast food restaurant.

"It is a personal issue," the exasperated mayor finally said. "I don't want to discuss it further."

Tatum has suggested that the board wasn't too keen on discussing the matter with her either.

When asked by reporters why she stepped down, Tatum said she only resigned in lieu of being fired.

She added that commissioners declined to state a reason for the requested resignation.

By all accounts, Tatum had done an outstanding job for Maxton since taking on the post in 2006. There have been significant improvements during her tenure, especially in housing rehabilitation and infrastructure. In talking with Tatum about any aspect of the town's administration, it didn't take long to realize that she knew her stuff. One also came to the quick realization that Tatum really cared for Maxton.

Of course, the board has the legal authority to employ who it wants as town administrator. Tatum worked at the board's will. But what is legal and what is right are not always the same thing.

Certainly the way that Tatum was forced to clear out her office and car moments after the board accepted her resignation seemed callous. Even town managers accused of crimes are given a leave of absence often with pay.

Town officials keep stonewalling that the matter was a personnel issue, but it seems more like a personal one.

Tatum deserved better from the elected representatives of the town.

Maxton does too.