To the Editor:

As many of you may have heard already, Bethel Town Manager Natalie Andrews has resigned. This is very unfortunate for Bethel. In less than a year she has been an asset to this town in many ways. Her office door has always been open to anyone and she is very easy to talk to. There have been a lot of past issues that she and her employees were working to fix and have fixed.

It is a shame that there are bullies in our town who are making it very difficult for our leaders to do the jobs that they were hired for. It is also a dishonor that some members of our Selectboard do not stand behind our Town Manager while she is being verbally harassed and bullied by these individuals. It is an embarrassment that our town has come to this disgraceful negativity. I never thought Bethel would fall to that level.

We have been through a revolving door of town managers over the last 10 years, more than any other town. It is going to get harder to find anyone who would be willing to take the town manager position if they are not going to be supported by the Select Board and have to put up with harassment and bullying by individuals.

Natalie is a strong woman and a great Town Manager. She will survive. I am fearful of the negativity and backlash that this issue will cause the Town in the future.

Jim Bennett
Bethel Planning Board
Chair

Bethel Ordinance Committee