ORANGE — The town’s community development director is stepping down effective Oct. 17, stating she has come to the conclusion that she does not have the experience or knowledge necessary to meet the needs of Orange.

Walker Powell has served in the position since March 2023, and penned a letter to the Selectboard to inform its members of her resignation amid a perceived lack of support and guidance from town leadership.

“This is not a decision I came to lightly. I have enjoyed much of my time working in Orange, and it had been my hope that I would be able to remain here long-term. However, that has not worked out,” Powell wrote. “Throughout my time in Orange I have done my best to fulfill the duties of my position; build a stronger, more resilient, and more welcoming town for residents, visitors and newcomers; and build the strength of the Community Development Department. I believe that I have been partially successful, but time has shown that a single person in this position would need very high levels of experience, dedication and mental fortitude to effect change.”

She wrote that she would have been willing to dedicate herself to growing into the position, learning more and working through hard times under coherent leadership.

“However, the town leadership has not provided me with the support and clear guidance I need,” Powell’s letter continues. “A town administrator [with] no experience and limited authority is not someone who can help me build a cohesive plan for community development. The Board of Selectmen has not demonstrated any form of coherent leadership and has not engaged with me in a meaningful way to improve communication, provide feedback or try to understand how planning fits into running a town.”

“We don’t agree with the characterization of the leadership of the town,” Selectboard Chair Tom Smith said in a statement. “The town of Orange continues moving forward making progress, we wish her well in her future endeavors and thank her for her time with the town.”

Powell told the Greenfield Recorder she has accepted an offer to join the four-member Planning Department in Amherst. She starts her new job on Monday, Oct. 21.

Powell, who lives in Montague, also mentioned having been told in May that her position may not be funded in fiscal year 2025.

“I faced a month of uncertainty as to the future of my position, with few direct statements of support and no outward effort on the part of the town administrator or the board that I would be funded,” she wrote in her letter. “Even when funding was found for my position, it took the funds I would use for grant matches, effectively hamstringing a large portion of my job, and there seems to be no guarantee that I would be added back to the budget for FY26.”

She said she wishes the best for Orange and its municipal officials.

“Only systemic changes will bring Orange into the future and bring the growth you are seeking,” she wrote.

Powell was appointed to the $70,227 position via a unanimous Selectboard vote. She replaced Alec Wade, who left for a new job in November 2022.

Powell was previously Orange’s planning technician, which is responsible for performing entry-level professional and paraprofessional assignments to provide staff support to the town’s Planning and Community Development Department and to assist with various phases of department projects, including providing support in research, supporting staff at various public meetings, performing demanding technical assignments and overall office support coordination. She is a graduate of the Conway School of Landscape Design and Smith College.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.