Dear Editor,
It has been my privilege to work closely with departing Rockingham municipal manager Scott Pickup for almost the entirety of his five-year tenure. He will be leaving us in January, to take a similar role in neighboring Springfield, Vt.
It’s hard to say goodbye to such a hardworking, capable, and enjoyable colleague. His steady hand on the tiller has steered our town safely through many a storm. And no matter how difficult the problem or personalities we faced, he never lost his temper or sense of humor. Scott has provided strong leadership for our politically complex and rapidly evolving town. Reporting to two boards is one of the distinct challenges of the job. But he quickly earned and has maintained the confidence of both the Rockingham Selectboard and Bellows Falls Trustees.
Scott is the kind of guy you want to have next to you in a stressful, unpredictable, and unavoidably adversarial situation, such as the merger of our three fiercely independent fire departments. He has remained unfailingly polite and respectful amidst the vitriol. Though there are still kinks to be worked out, Scott and Selectboard Chair Peter Golec have ably and patiently managed the long, complicated, and deeply contentious process after a proposal to consolidate the departments was decisively approved by Rockingham’s voters at our 2025 Town Meeting.
Today’s municipal managers are confronted by dozens of pressing problems every day. The natural response is to become completely reactive. But as Stephen Covey points out in his “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” the urgent often drives out the important. Immediate, time-sensitive tasks easily distract us from long-term goals. Scott’s management style deftly balances the reactive and proactive. When responding to an emergency, he always seeks a longer-term fix or whole new approach. And he never loses sight of the bigger picture.
Scott shone in many other areas as well, supporting and advising his staff members and volunteer committees as they made significant progress in zoning, public works, quality of life projects, housing, and the town’s crucial interactions with the state agencies that fund and regulate so much of what we do. From cemeteries, to sidewalks, to the failing roof of the town hall, our physical assets are getting the attention they deserve.
For Scott, serving as manager was more than just a job. He has become a member of our community, getting to know all kinds of folks around town, renting an apartment in Bellows Falls, and being an active and much-appreciated volunteer in the Rotary Club. He even takes to the stage in that organization’s Bellows Follies fundraisers at the opera house.
This selectboard member wishes Scott every success as he moves on to new challenges in a bigger town. We’re lucky that he will remain our neighbor!
Sincerely,
Rick Cowan
Rockingham Selectboard Member