ROCKINGHAM — In January, I read a letter to the then-current Rockingham Selectboard regarding what I saw as the aberrant behavior of the Rockingham Development Office.
At that time, I suggested the board conduct a thorough performance audit of the office over the last eight years and make a thorough list of projects undertaken versus projects completed by this town department.
At the Selectboard meeting of March 7, I reiterated that call.
Beyond that, however, seeing the continuing stonewalling behind a dysfunctional fiefdom involving the public development office and the private Bellows Falls Area Development Corporation, I feel the current development director, Francis Walsh, has displayed a skill set unsuited to his current job.
It is my strong hope that the 2016 Selectboard will see to much-needed changes in and oversight of the development office. Moving forward longer term, I would suggest the office have a clear job description and professional behavioral guidelines - such as a promise not to deliberately mislead the townspeople of Rockingham.