Wellfleet is about to lose another town administrator. Are divisive politics at play?

Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times
Updated ·4 min read

WELLFLEET — Rich Waldo’s resignation as town administrator marks the sixth time in 10 years that the town’s top official has left office, leaving some former officials to say his departure should raise red flags about constant staff turnover.

In his resignation letter, Waldo said he made the decision after a long discussion with his family, citing the “value and importance of my physical, mental and emotional presence in the lives of our young family.”

Waldo submitted the letter Dec. 20, requesting a Feb. 9 separation date.

Waldo came to Wellfleet after serving as the director of public works in Provincetown. He has accepted a job as the director of public works in Orleans, according to Select Board vice chairman Mark Mathison.

View looking west towards Cape Cod Bay as the Herring River tidal restoration project is well underway. Once complete the project will revive over 1,000 acres of tidal salt marsh. Chequessett Neck Road is in the center of the image. Rich Waldo, who is resigning as town administrator in Wellfleet, listed the project as one his accomplishments during tenure. He is leaving to become director of public works in Orleans.

Waldo is leaving after 18 months in the position. He cited several accomplishments during his tenure, including the purchase of Maurice’s Campground, work on the Herring River Restoration Project, sending a Targeted Watershed Management Plan to the Department of Environmental Protection, and a $3 million grant for a wastewater system.

But the job held serious drawbacks for him and he offered a warning to his successor.

“The next town administrator will need tremendous and unwavering support from the selectboard to be put in the best position to succeed or they will undoubtedly fail,” Waldo wrote in his letter. “We have a young and cohesive staff and if nurtured correctly you can set them up for years of success in Wellfleet.”

Wellfleet Town Administrator Richard Waldo is leaving after 18 months on the job. He is taking the job of director of public works in Orleans. His last day in Wellfleet will be Feb. 9
Wellfleet Town Administrator Richard Waldo is leaving after 18 months on the job. He is taking the job of director of public works in Orleans. His last day in Wellfleet will be Feb. 9

Selectboard member Michael DeVasto called Waldo's departure "unfortunate." He said it was incumbent on the board to foster a positive work environment and do a better job interacting with the town administrator, staff members and the professionals the town hires to carry out projects.

"We don't have to agree with each other but we have an obligation to respect each other," DeVasto wrote in an email.

Kathleen Bacon, who resigned from the Selectboard in July 2023, said Waldo’s resignation is a red flag that there is something systemically wrong in the town. A Wellfleet resident for 38 years, Bacon has seen many town administrators come and go.

“I’ve never worked with a better, finer administrator,” Bacon said in a phone interview Friday. “We’ve lost a significant individual.”

Bacon called what's happening in Wellfleet a reflection of the divisive politics occurring nationally. Former Select Board member Janet Reinhart agrees.

“We need a town forum to have a nice discussion,” she said on Friday. “All inclusive. What can we do for this town?”

Selectboard meetings have been far from nice in the recent past. They’ve been marred by people interrupting one another, accusations being leveled against selectboard members and other town board and committee members. Recriminations have been hurled about big-ticket items facing the town, including affordable housing projects, the addition of new town positions and harbor dredging projects.

At Tuesday's meeting, Chairwoman Barbara Carboni took a moment to read a statement about the differences between speech and conduct at public meetings. While content is protected, conduct is regulated by open meeting and Massachusetts case law, she said.

"The Chair will enforce the above rules to prevent disruption of meetings and to ensure 'orderly and peaceable' public comment," the statement read. Carboni promised to enforce the rules of conduct and if necessary, have police officers escort unruly participants from a meeting.

The town's financial troubles have weighed heavily on officials and residents for years. Free cash was certified in April 2022 after going three years without. Interim Town Administrator Charlie Sumner and his staff dealt with what he called “crisis issues” during his tenure from May 2021 to March 2022. But he said there were another several years of financial work to do.

Select Board member Ryan Curley agreed. “The DOR (Department of Revenue) was clear that these things take time in terms of years,” he said.

The Selectboard will meet in executive session on Jan 2. Deciding on Waldo’s separation date and hiring a new town administrator will be on the agenda, no doubt.

The Times reached out to Waldo but he didn't immediately return calls for comment.

Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues affecting Cape Cod residents. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Rich Waldo will resign. Why can't Wellfleet keep a town administrator?