'We are devastated': Dighton town administrator resigns. Why, where's he going, what now?

DIGHTON — The town administrator since 2021, Michael Mullen, is resigning effective June 13 to become the director of planning and economic development in Plainville.

Dighton Select Board Chair Peter Caron said that while Mullen submitted his official resignation at the panel's May 22 meeting, Mullen had notified the town a month ago that he was considering a job offer from another town.

"We are devastated," Caron said of Mullen leaving the town administrator's position after three years on the job. "We are losing one of the best town administrators in the area. He's done a fantastic job for the town. He was a great town administrator, and he was a close friend."

Select Board to serve as interim town administrator

What will the town do now to replace him?

"We will be interviewing to hire an agency to help find a new town administrator," Caron said.

Meanwhile, immediately after June 13, the three select board members will assume town administrator duties.

"I will be at town hall everyday and inform the others on what's happening," Caron said, "I will be there to put out fires while we look for a new town administrator. But it will be difficult. It may take between three to five months to find someone as talented as he was to run the town."

Caron further reflected on Mullen's announcement that he was resigning.

"We tried to change his mind," he said. "But it is a 60-70 hour job, always on-call. And he has a very young family he would like to spend more time with. So I don't begrudge him for this decision. He's a very kind and hard-working, and a very charismatic person and extra-qualified for the work he does."

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Town Meeting article would eliminate town administrator

Caron noted there is a petition article on the June 22 Town Meeting warrant that would eliminate the town administrator position, and he acknowledged this is partly a reaction to the town's misstep of not including a local finalist candidate for the new police chief, a move that attracted an auditorium full of police and fire personnel to protest the exclusion.

But that was not a misstep by the town administrator, nor one that would get Mullen fired or make him resign, Caron said. The petition article itself is wrong for the town.

"It would take us back to the 20th century," he said. "We're a $28 million operation and need a town administrator."

Who is Michael Mullen? Dighton town administrator has a passion for public service

Read his own words: why he's leaving

Mullen's voice cracked with emotion as he revealed his resignation on May 22 and he offered similar sentiments in his press release announcement Thursday.

"It is with very bittersweet emotions I share with you today that I have accepted a position in another community and that I plan to resign from my position serving as Dighton's second-ever town administrator in mid-June," he said, adding "I am immensely proud of the success and the accomplishments that I have helped to lead and achieve as Dighton's town administrator."

"Together, we have strengthened our financial management and fiscal planning practices, established a capital planning process, built a town human resources function; and we continue working to better align land-use permitting processes. We have also secured more than $4 million in state, federal and related grant funding to address longtime needs like the replacement of the Pleasant Street Bridge at Muddy Cove and the more than 25-year effort to bring a library building project to fruition with the acquisition of 207 Main St.

"It goes without saying that I have truly enjoyed my work on behalf of the Dighton community, but many of the efforts required in the role of Dighton's town administrator are becoming unsustainable. In addition, the role has also brought with it additional sacrifices to my young family. I love being a devoted husband and a proud Dad as much as I thrive on having a successful and impactful career as a municipal leader. I am looking forward to a new role where I will bring the same kind of work ethic for which I am known, but that allows me to achieve a more sustainable balance, especially for my family. I am committed to working with the Board to ensure a smooth transition. I thank each of you, all the members of the Board of Selectmen for whom I have worked, our valued Department Heads and dedicated employees, and the Dighton community for your support during these last three years."

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Dighton Town Administrator Michael Mullen resigns. Why and what now?