Rice leaves post today

Assistant town manager Malachy Rice's resignation becomes effective today. INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO Today marks Malachy Rice's last day as Nantucket's assistant town manager. Rice started working for the town in January 2008.

Rice's controversial resignation turned a spotlight onto the billing practices of town counsel Paul DeRensis and his firm of Deutsch Williams Brooks DeRensis & Holland, P.C.

Rice was to resign on Nov. 27, but stayed on as assistant town manager until mid-December at the request of town manager Elizabeth Gibson.

"As a professional, I have to be impartial, objective and unbiased, due to the dynamics. I had to sacrifice," said Rice. "It is about good government. These are the steps I needed to take to draw attention. To maintain my professional standards, I am going forward; I need to resign."

As a result of Rice's three-page resignation letter, dated Sep. 9, 2009 and made public almost three weeks later as a result of a public information request by The Nantucket Independent, Rice was critical of town counsel.

Rice stresses that his complaints have nothing to do with the Board of Selectmen or any individual member, saying that sometimes the only way entrenched situations can be changed is through dramatic action.

"My actions are meant to bring attention to a serious issue that a part-time contractor for the town of Nantucket is causing," said Rice in an interview in early October. "A perception has been created that counsel is more than a part-time contractor. He has equated himself to being a check and balance to the town manager. My only motivation is good government, and it is a principle I feel so strongly about that I have resigned to bring attention to this issue.

"I have a luxury because I don't have a family or a house on Nantucket, so it is a little easier for me to stand up. Something has to change," Rice continued. "To imply that I have a personal agenda…I do not benefit from this. What I am saying is that this town needs a new town counsel, period. What is in the letter is what a lot of people think but are afraid to say."

Although Rice does not have a new position lined up, he has no regrets about resigning from his post on Nantucket.

"The Board handled a difficult situation well. They are ready to have an independent review of legal services," said Rice. I INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO