A letdown for Winchester

Winchester residents who thought they saw town government headed in the right direction in recent months saw some of their hopes dashed last week, as Town Manager Wayne Dove abruptly announced his resignation, effective at the end of October.

The Colebrook resident and former international investment fund manager was typically evasive this week when asked about his decision to leave — which comes during troubled financial times for the town. Some speculated that he was fed up with decision makers on the Board of Education and at The Gilbert School, who have been unable to reach a consensus regarding how to improve efficiency in the school system.

Whatever the reason, the sudden loss of a fiscally minded manager with extensive experience running complex organizations feels like a kick in the ribs to a community that has already been knocked down many times.

Winchester residents should be disappointed to lose Dove’s experience and authoritative skill, but should also be annoyed that someone with such credentials has so quickly lost enthusiasm, which he so eloquently expressed. While no one person can singlehandedly save a community, this town manager seemed prepared to at least get everyone moving in the right direction.

Even if the planning stage of that effort seemed to be dragging in recent weeks, and though Dove was a somewhat inaccessible public official, at least people from all political stripes in town said they liked his ideas and supported his work. Criticism was almost nonexistent as townspeople cheered on an apparent renaissance in local government. Now that Dove is leaving, the sense of optimism and faith is tarnished.

Some people may be left wondering how Winchester’s many problems can be solved without confident leadership. They can’t. A town manager can’t run the business of a municipality unless he has both the people’s confidence and his own. This time around, it appears the latter is lacking, and that is ultimately a big letdown for the Winchester community.

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