Briggs resigns as Dexter town manager

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — Linda-Jean Briggs resigned as Dexter town manager last week after less than two years on the job.
    Town Council Chairman Peter Haskell confirmed that Briggs turned in her resignation effective Friday, Oct. 25. “She left on good terms,” Haskell said. “She is very intelligent and capable so I don’t think she’ll have any problem finding something new.”

    Briggs couldn’t be reached for comment, but Haskell said that her sister-in-law passed away recently and she was returning to her hometown in Rhode Island to be with her family. “Shelley (Watson) will be able to take care of day-to-day things until we get a replacement,” Haskell said. Watson is Dexter’s town clerk, but also serves as assistant town manager, the council chair said.
    Briggs was hired in November 2011 on a six-month probationary period and the town council unanimously voted to retain her in April 2012 and gave her a salary increase from $50,000 to $63,000 per year.
    She was a retired Verizon network engineer who was active in community affairs in Rhode Island, including chairing the North Smithfield Sewer Commission. She has a master’s in public administration from the University of Rhode Island and a certificate in nonprofit studies from Rhode Island College. She also served as the legislative liaison for the Rhode Island League of Women Voters.