The town of Halifax is once again undergoing a significant leadership transition, with Town Administrator Cody Haddad having recently resigned at the end of July 2025 and Select Board Chair John Bruno not seeking reelection last May. This current transition, however, stands in stark contrast to the turbulent period Halifax experienced in late 2022, marking a notable shift in the town’s civic atmosphere.
In August 2022, Halifax was plunged into an unprecedented crisis when two members of its three-person Select Board, Ashley DiSesa and Alexander Meade, and the new Town Administrator, Marty Golightly, all resigned on the same day. This left Jonathan Selig as the sole remaining Selectman, holding biweekly meetings and daily operations as a “one-man band” for 76 days. Selig noted at the time, “It’s a little strange, I’m not going to lie,” but stated he was “starting to get the hang of being a one-man band here”. Procedurally that involved regularly making a motion, seconding his own motion, and voting 1-0 to approve it.
Among the tensions preceding the departures was a proposed renovation to a cranberry bog by Morse Brothers, Inc., that residents believed would overwhelm their neighborhood. Meetings from April to August 2022 grew “increasingly hostile,” with neighbors shouting over representatives fearing potential damage to roads, danger to children, water contamination, and decreased home values. Some even claimed the bog project was a “coverup for a strip mine”.
The resigning officials cited a deeply “toxic” environment. Town Administrator Marty Golightly, who had only been appointed in mid-July 2022, stated it “wasn’t the right fit” for him. He had previously faced “personal attacks and threats” in his role as Director of Public Health in Abington during the pandemic, which made working in his community uncomfortable. Select Board Chair Ashley DiSesa described enduring a “storm of misogyny, sexual harassment, and underestimation by a select group of loud-mouth residents”. Co-chair Alexander Meade reported being “threatened,” “verbally attacked,” and at one point needed to use an alternate exit to evade an “angry crowd” outside Town Hall. He noted the emergence of “misplaced negative rhetoric and a mob mentality”. The emergency meeting where these resignations occurred lasted only about four minutes.
With basic government operations undermined, Halifax relied on a “skeleton-crew government”. Town Accountant Sandra Nolan stepped in as acting top official, despite having “no interest” in the Town Administrator role, simply because she felt it was “in the best interest of the town”. Police staffing was at a “difficult level”, and though candidates were identified Selig opted not to swear them in solo. The remaining town government largely focused on “rubber-stamp items such as paying bills, filling payroll, and ‘making sure the lights stay on’”. Selig acknowledged the “tough times” but expressed pride in how town workers “leaned in” to help.
The crisis concluded with a special election on November 8, 2022, held concurrently with the state’s mid-term election, to fill the two vacant Select Board seats. John Bruno, a former selectman for 15 years and town moderator for nearly a decade, ran unopposed for one seat, and Naja Nessralla was elected to the other, bringing the Select Board back to a full three members for the first time in 76 days. The new board’s “priority #1” was to find a new town administrator. A search committee, including the Town Accountant, Town Clerk, Police and Fire Chiefs, and three citizens-at-large, was formed to screen candidates.
Fast forward to 2025, and Halifax faces a different scenario. Town Administrator Cody Haddad’s resignation is a personal decision as he returns to Dartmouth. This departure is being managed with a clear transition plan, with Haddad giving ample notice and committing to assist during the transition. Select Board members have universally praised Haddad’s two-and-a-half-year tenure, crediting him with bringing “stability” to the town and charting a new course. Selectman Jonathan Selig noted that under Haddad’s leadership, the town shifted from, “putting out fires in the now to thinking down the road”. Board member Thomas Pratt stated he “always felt prepared” and “never surprised” with Haddad at the helm, calling him a “shining star”. Haddad himself noted a positive shift in town culture, experiencing “tremendous” support from residents, contrasting with the “vocal minority”.
The transition is marked by continuity, not chaos. Robert Fennessy, a former Town Administrator in Carver and Kingston with over 40 years of municipal and law enforcement experience, has been appointed as Interim Town Administrator. Fennessy was expected to get “up to speed within a week” and has expressed his intent to support the board and staff without disrupting ongoing operations. He is interested only in the interim position, not the permanent role. The board aims for an overlap between administrators to ensure a smooth handover.
The search for Halifax’s next permanent Town Administrator has already begun, with Haddad initiating contact with search firms for proposals. A new search committee has been formed, composed of citizens, a Finance Committee member, and the Town Clerk. The goal is to have a candidate in place by mid-August.
While the immediate leadership transitions are vastly different, it’s worth noting that Halifax continues to grapple with underlying community issues. For example, the ongoing dispute with Morse Brothers, Inc. over the cranberry bog project and alleged illegal sand mining activities, which was a flashpoint in 2022, resurfaced in 2024 with the Select Board issuing a cease-and-desist order and a $30,000 fine for multiple violations of the town’s Soil Removal By-law. Residents continue to express concerns about truck traffic, road damage, and water quality issues related to the operations. Additionally, the town is still dealing with challenges related to the MBTA Communities Act and discussions about a potential override for the fiscal year 2027 budget due to rising costs. These issues highlight that while the town’s governance has achieved stability, many challenges remain.
The contrast between these two periods highlights Halifax’s journey through challenging times to a more stable and collaborative environment. As the town embarks on finding its next permanent Town Administrator, the experience of 2022 serves as a stark reminder of past difficulties, while the current orderly transition reflects a significant improvement in town governance and community relations. The Board of Selectmen even named Selig chair, succeeding Bruno. This time he chairs the meetings with other members alongside him.