When Opie goes into Howard's office there is a large sign on the wall indicating the office is the License Division for Mayberry Township. Howard later tells Opie "someone has to keep up with the city's documents." However, Howard is the County Clerk and would not be processing licenses or anything else for the township. Municipalities have their own City Clerk's offices separate from the county.
Howard sees a travelogue one night of the beautiful life in a south sea island paradise. Without first just taking a week's vacation to see if it's the life he thinks it is, he up and quits his job and Mayberry and moves there. Not at all practical for a very practical and focused person.
Howard Sprague is a bookish county clerk, cloistered in a small town. But Jack Dodson is a Hollywood actor who belies this character by showing the audience a full body tan while he's on the island.