COVINGTON, Ga. – The Newton County Recreation Commission voted unanimously to name longtime county employee Dwayne Mask interim recreation director during a called meeting Monday evening.

Mask, a 30-year county employee, has served as deputy director of the department for the past three years.

The director’s position became vacant last Monday when the commission voted to terminate then-Director Anthony Avery.

Commission Chairman Danny Stone said the commission had agreed last week to name an interim director within five business days of Avery’s termination.

“Today is the fifth business day so we are up to the point that we need to put somebody in an interim position in order to move forward with decisions for the Rec Department,” he said.

Stone said Mask will remain in the position for an undetermined amount of time.

“I appreciate y’all giving me the opportunity and having the confidence in me step in for this period of time,” Mask said.