FRANKLIN—Michael Stoneham, director of Franklin’s city-owned electric utility, has resigned to return to retirement.

Stoneham’s last day will be March 31.

“We’ll be going back to Richmond,” he said.

A 36-year-employee with Dominion Virginia Power, Stoneham came out of retirement in October 2009 to take the job in Franklin.

“It was just a combination of things,” he said. “I felt I needed to go back to work, saw the ad in the newspaper and applied.”

Stoneham rents a residence in Franklin, but he will return to Richmond, where he has a home on the market.

A native of Virginia Beach and graduate of Old Dominion University, Stoneham held several positions with Dominion Virginia Power, including serving as Norfolk district manager and Eastern Division manager for operations and construction.

The city is looking for a new director. The position requires a bachelor’s degree or related experience. Five years of local government experience is preferred. The director oversees 15 employees and a $13 million budget.