Housing head resigns post
By Tom Shevlin

Jamestown Housing Commissioner Shirley Dean has resigned from her position effective immediately, citing repeated verbal abuse by island residents.

"I have served since 2003 as an unpaid volunteer, resident commissioner and have been verbally abused by residents and often close to physical harm by these same people…I will not tolerate this behavior any longer and shall end my term as of July 11, 2007," Dean wrote in a letter to the town council.

Councilman Michael Schnack voiced his distress over the allegations in Dean's letter and asked that the matter be looked into. Other councilors agreed and instructed Town Administrator Bruce Keiser to forward her letter to the Jamestown Police for further investigation.

Dean's resignation leaves the commission with three voting members capable of reaching a quorum: Susan James, Valerie Topp, and Kathleen Rushton.