Canton Town Administrator and Former Fire Chief Charles E. Doody Set to Retire April 10

Charles E. Doody has been serving the Town of Canton for more than three decades, since 1995. On April 10, the current Town Administrator will retire from municipal employment. (Photo Courtesy Town of Canton)

CANTON — After more than 30 years of dedicated service to the Town of Canton, Town Administrator and former Fire Chief Charles E. Doody will retire on April 10.

Doody, a lifelong Canton resident, has served as Town Administrator since 2022. Prior to that, he led the Canton Fire Department as Chief from 2009 to 2022. He joined the department in 1995 as a firefighter and emergency medical technician and rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief before being appointed Chief.

During his tenure, Doody also served as Director of the Canton Emergency Management Agency, where he played a key role in coordinating the Town’s emergency preparedness and response efforts. This included leading Canton through the COVID-19 pandemic by working closely with local and regional partners during an unprecedented period.

As Town Administrator, Doody served as the Town’s chief administrative officer, working closely with the Select Board to oversee municipal operations, including activities and projects, support town departments and guide policy, planning and budgeting efforts.

“My time as Canton’s Town Administrator and Fire Chief presented challenges that I could have never predicted,” Doody said. “Although we’re trained to expect the unexpected, these challenges forced me to adapt and grow as a leader. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve this community. It has been a fulfilling experience, and I’m ready to begin the next chapter of my life.”

For Doody, education was also a lifelong mission. Doody holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Waldorf University, a Master of Education from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Hampshire. He also completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.

Throughout his career, Doody was active in several professional organizations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the New England Association of Fire Chiefs, where he served as president in 2022.

“This Town will miss the service of Charles E. Doody,” said Canton Select Board Chair John R. McCourt. “Charlie has been a steady and dependable leader for more than three decades. He has helped guide the Town through challenges and worked every day to serve our residents. We wish him all the best in retirement.”

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