SHIRLEY -- Selectmen Chairman Armand Deveau has resigned effective as of the May 10 Town Election and a year shy of completing his second term.

Deveau submitted a letter of resignation Tuesday afternoon.

Neither a sudden decision nor politically motivated, his resignation was part of a "life choice" he and his wife made, he said. Simply put, they're moving out of town.

In an interview shortly after making the rounds with his resignation letter, Deveau acknowledged there might be "speculation" that differences he's had with the other selectmen prompted his decision to quit.

That is absolutely not why he's stepping down now, he said, and he wants the citizens of Shirley to know that.

Deveau has been the odd man out on the three-member board for some time and has on occasion expressed frustration, particularly concerning issues he feels passionately about.

He has, however, had some victories since he was elected and has been able to fulfill campaign promises, he said. One thing he did was Create the Tax Collection Committee, for example, which has thus far recouped $700,000 in previously unpaid property taxes.

Other successful initiatives include creating working groups that have made a difference, such as the Economic Development Committee and the Energy Advisory Committee, which worked to get the town a "Green Community" designation and a $153,000 state grant for energy-saving projects.

The most recent flap was over a majority move to oust Chief Administrative Officer David Berry. Deveau strongly disagreed and voted against the motion when it was made at last week's meeting. But he didn't resign because of that, he said.

The matter is expected to come up again at the next selectmen's meeting, Jan 28, but Deveau will be out of town. That shouldn't surprise anyone, he said, since he made arrangements well in advance, announced it in public and will be available long-distance, if needed.

Deveau and his wife plan to stay the rest of the winter at their second home in Florida, which is slated to become their primary residence soon. Obviously, he couldn't be a Shirley selectmen any more when that happens.

But why not stay until then?

Deveau said he asked Town Clerk Amy McDougall for a deadline date by which she'd need to know his seat would be vacated so it could be placed on the May Town Election ballot, Deveau said, thus avoiding the expense of a special election,

Besides, he said, it takes time and effort to be an effective selectman, and he wants the next person who takes the post to step in as soon as possible.

"In effect, I'm giving a four-month notice," Deveau said. "I can leave with my head held high."

Contacted later by another reporter, the other two selectmen, Kendra Dumont and David Swain, commented on the news that Deveau had resigned.

Neither knew Deveau had submitted his letter of resignation, they said.

Swain said he did know Deveau and his wife spend a significant amount of time in Florida each year and were thinking of moving there full time in the near future. Still, the news was surprising, he said, while noting that he did check his email and had Deveau's resignation letter in his inbox.

"His house has been on the market for awhile and he thinks he has a potential buyer and wants to give people a chance to run in the election in the town," Swain said.

"He has been up front with us that he felt it would be important to let us know the reasons behind it and what would happen," Swain said. "We will definitely miss him. He had a good perspective and always had the best interest of the people in mind."

Dumont also acknowledged Deveau's letter was in her inbox, but said she was blindsided.

"He said he was willing to stay on until May if the board wants him to. I guess his end goal is to get to Florida and start a business there," she said.

Dumont hopes that Deveau does stay on the board until the election in May, just to make things easier in the long run.

"He's going to be gone for most of that time anyhow in Florida. I had no idea. I'm shocked. He has not said a single word," Dumont said. "I thought he was going to move there somewhere down the road but I didn't expect it to be so soon. If he can sell his house in this market, then I guess he should do it," she said.