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Town Manager Beth Rudolph submitted her resignation on Monday, setting a cap on a career that began in the Town Hall engineering office and culminated in the top administrative post.
Select Board member Bill McGonigle said Rudolph’s brief letter offered no explanation beyond her intention to leave. He did not have a timeline for her departure.
“It doesn’t say anything other than I’ve had a good experience, and I’m resigning,” he said.
Rudolph entered municipal service around 2004, joining Winchester as assistant town engineer under Bob Conway. She later rose to town engineer, a role in which she oversaw infrastructure projects ranging from storm-water upgrades to road resurfacing and helped shepherd multimillion-dollar capital plans.
Her profile expanded in 2021 when former Town Manager Lisa Wong left to become the South Hadley town manager, and the Select Board tapped Rudolph to serve as acting town manager during a pandemic-burdened budget cycle.
“She came into the town manager position, you know, as acting town manager at a very odd time,” McGonigle said, adding it was around COVID-19.
In December 2022, the board voted unanimously to remove the interim tag and name Rudolph permanent town manager.
March 2025 brought her first formal performance review, in which board members praised her budgeting discipline, collaborative leadership and “impeccable organization.” The evaluation placed her in the top tier of the town’s compensation scale.
“She’s been working for the town for 27 years,” McGonigle said, noting Rudolph’s public-works experience helped her navigate supply-chain squeezes, storm-water mandates and a volatile construction market.
Town Hall staff learned of her decision when Rudolph submitted her resignation on July 7. The effective date has not been finalized, but McGonigle said department heads are already drafting transition plans.
“She’s just, she’s been town manager through a couple of very, not easy years, but I think she’s done a good job,” he said. “I’ve personally enjoyed working with her. I’m disappointed that I won’t get to work with her more. I hope that she has found something that’s better for her personally.”
The board intends to place a discussion of the succession process on upcoming agendas. Interim leadership, recruitment timelines and the potential use of a search firm are expected to be part of the public deliberations.
In Winchester, the Select Board appoints the town manager, who oversees day-to-day operations, negotiates labor contracts and proposes the annual budget.
Until a successor is chosen, McGonigle said the board’s priority will be maintaining continuity.
On Wednesday afternoon, Rudolph said she was not available for comment on her resignation and departure.
Select Board Chair Michelle Prior and other members of the board were unavailable for comment.
This is a developing news story. Check back for additional coverage.
