Barnstable Town Councilor Resigns

BARNSTABLE, MA — Barnstable Town Councilor Britt Beedenbender has resigned, citing the rigor of the job, a lack of support from town leadership and insults from constituents. Beedenbender, who represented Precinct 4 in Centerville, had served on the council since 2017 and had about 15 months left on her term.

The Cape Cod Time reported Beedenbender submitted her resignation letter to Town Council President Paul Hebert on Sunday. The resignation was effective immediately. According to the Times, the last straw for Beedenbender appeared to stem from a public records request made to the town by an opponent of a proposed short-term rental zoning bylaw. The request uncovered text messages between Beedenbender and Councilor Jennifer Cullum that depicted criticism of community activists and often used off-color language.

"I also wasn’t prepared for how the public would behave and how I would be treated," Beedenbender told the Cape Cod Times. "I was also floored at how the public treated and spoke to (town) staff, which often put me on the defensive, as we have an incredibly talented and dedicated group of people serving all the needs of our community. Over time, I have come to realize that I don't have the type of personality that can manage that well."

The town charter requires a special election to be held to fill the remainder of Beedenbender's term. That election has not been scheduled yet.

For more on this story, check out the Cape Cod Times.