Long-time
Chesterton Town Manager Bernie Doyle announced his retirement, effective
Dec. 31, at Monday night’s meeting of the Town Council.
Doyle read the
following prepared statement:
“I plan on retiring
from my position as Town Manager effective Thursday, Dec. 31, of this year.
The decision is of my own choosing and was not easy for someone who has
spent the better part of the last 48 years in service to this country,
state, region, and community. However, my health is deteriorating, in no
small way due to my military and early public safety careers. I have no
regrets. It came with the territory and I’ve reached a point where I want to
spend more time with my remaining family and to pursue other interests.
"My earnest hope is
that I was able to achieve what you and the other members of the Town
Council in 2009 hired me to accomplish. I trust that I am leaving Chesterton
a better place as a result. I certainly didn’t do it alone, as we have an
exceptional team of department heads, legal staff, board and commission
members as well as our dedicated employees, which made my job so much
easier.
“Challenges remain
and even though 2020 has been an uncertain and stressful year, it remains an
exciting time for Chesterton with continued growth and stability. The bottom
line is sustained quality of place for our residents and businesses as well
as continuity of operations for our departments and employees. We have
achieved that.
“Rest assured if
requested that I will assist you and the current council with laying the
groundwork for my replacement. Finally, I want to thank you, (President
Sharon Darnell, D-4th), the members of the Town Council past and present,
and especially attorney Chuck Lukmann for all your friendship and support.
That means a great deal to me as I head into the next phase of my life.”
Member Jennifer
Fisher, I-5th, took a moment at the end of the meeting to express her
gratitude to Doyle for his service and assistance. “Thank you, Bernie,” she
said. “I have worked with you only a short time, but you were always helpful
and gracious during my transition. You have a very diverse background and
you have been an asset to this country. And as much as I hate to see you go,
I wish you the best in your future.”
“I also want to
thank you, Bernie,” said Member Lloyd Kittredge, R-2nd, “for everything
you’ve done and continue to do for the town and what you’ve done for me
personally.”
Darnell, for her
part, noted that Doyle still has five months and change on the job, and that
she looks forward to working with him every day of that.
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