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Banner file photo/Wood
Town Administrator Tim Smith |
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Smith resigns
By Derek Burritt
Banner Staff
WELLFLEET — After six and a half years as town administrator, Tim Smith handed his resignation letter to the board of selectmen Thursday to be effective July 1.
“It was a mutual decision,” said Selectman Jerry Houk, addressing the question of whether selectmen advised Smith to resign.
On Smith’s watch, the town has seen planning for new police and fire stations, a small public water system built, the town’s landfill capped, town personnel practices systemized, a new senior center built and the creation of an assistant town administrator position. Recently, Smith has taken heat from townspeople over his lack of oversight of the department of public works. Reports from those close to Town Hall say Smith’s resignation isn’t directly related to the DPW matter, and some say it’s the former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander’s militaristic style of management in a public position that has most greatly contributed to any disfavor he’s drawn during his term.
“I tried to anticipate problems and head them off before they became bigger problems, just like any other management position,” Smith said.
According to Smith, the one thing he wished he had accomplished was to build a bigger municipal water system. In the weeks leading up to July 1, Smith says he’ll be focused on getting his work in order for his replacement, including outstanding legal and personnel matters as well as the four major projects in town, including the fire station design and renovations to the skateboard park, town pier and Uncle Tim’s Bridge. From here, Smith says he plans to find a similar position in municipal government somewhere in the Midwest, which he anticipates might take six months to a year.
Since Smith’s resignation, there’s been talk and reports in other media that Assistant Town Administrator Rex Peterson will step in as the interim town administrator. However, this transition is not fait accompli, according to Peterson.
“I anticipate helping out in some capacity,” Peterson says, but taking on the official role of interim town administrator may disqualify him from loftier goals.
The town charter specifically addresses the appointment of an acting town administrator to fill a vacancy for a period of not more than 90 days, which can be renewed in cases of “suspension, removal or resignation.” However, the provision also states that “the appointee shall be ineligible for appointment as town administrator.”
Peterson isn’t ready to take his name out of the running for the position. He says he’s open to expanding his current roll to help out until the position is filled, but before he takes any official title, he needs to “weigh his options and think about it.” During his career, Peterson has also been an assistant town planner for Dennis, permit coordinator for Provincetown and town planner for Eastham. Becoming town administrator would be a vertical move for Peterson. He says he plans to meet with selectmen next week to discuss the matter.
dburritt@provincetownbanner.com
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May 31st, 2007