I'm very sorry to hear this. Bob Driscoll will be a hard act to follow, but I wish him the best in his future endeavors. I've always found him to be patient, courteous and highly professional, with an amazing knowledge of Portsmouth and its history. I hope that he stays in Portsmouth and remains active in our civic affairs. We need the kind of level-headed leadership that he has provided over the years and I hope that the Town Council does its due diligence in selecting his replacement.

I am very sorry to hear of Bob's decision but I can't blame him. Who wants to spend their days under attack. It will not be an easy task to replace him. He always responds with patience, courtesy and professionalism. Good luck Bob, you will be missed by all who really know Portsmouth.

I spent 12 yrs on the Town Council (many as President) and had a professional relationship as well as a great friendship with Bob. He has served the Town well! I have not attended a Council meeting but have watched many of them on local access. It is sad to see how Bob has been disrespected by members of the audience and even sadder to see how some Council members talk down to him and undress him in Public. So, so sad! The meetings are embarrassing to watch and resemble a three-ring circus. Who can blame Bob for wanting to retire. BEST OF LUCK BOB!

He's been involved in many of the issues we deal with today and will deal with when he is gone. If he did his job well we wouldn't be in the situations we are in today. For example, the town dump issues, the sewer issues, the capping of the old dump in IP (this is an inside deal and there is no doubt this will develop into something near this location - a condo?), town roads are a mess. So lets hear the good (being a nice guy and have good manners doesn't get the job done).

The good, driscol finally leaving
The bad, the PCC/council will put in one of there own permanent cronies.

The residents who are so very sad to see Mr. Driscoll go must reside on the Southern end of Portsmouth...the side without the toxic waste site. In your comments, you depict Bobby as the victim here in typical "lawyer fashion." Please find it in your kind hearts to forgive the residents of IP for trying to protect their homes and children from imminent harm. If this was in your backyard, you would have had your high profile lawyers raising hell at every town hall meeting. It's the typical, good ole fashioned "if it's not in my neighborhood, it's not my problem" approach. Shame on you all who bear blinders! Kudos to all the people, IP residents and others, for banding together to oppose the toxic landfill. To the individuals who sympathize with Mr. Driscoll most likely feel our former president was also a "hard act to follow"....two wars and a decimated economy later. For the record, I do not reside in IP.

“In the relations of a weak Government and a rebellious people there comes a time when every act of the authorities exasperates the masses, and every refusal to act excites their contempt.”
John Reed

Dear Daryll and East Side, Please take the time to remove your heads from your behinds, neither of you know Bob very well or at all, it's evident in what you write. Only after he leaves his position will you come to respect all that he has done for this community, you should also read his job description, then you might see that most things that you hang blame on him for are really issues that the town council are responsible for, he serves the council not the other way around. I think it is going to be hilarious seeing who his council appoints as the his replacement. Bob was always willing to take the time to orient new council members.
Darryl you are so far off the mark, you couldn't be more wrong in your assumptions, that is what they are, you have no idea how long some of these people who you are commenting about have lived in IP. The only thing toxic around here is you.

Agree with Mr. Driscoll or disagree with him, I always found him to be accessible and professional. His job was not an easy one. As was noted, he served the Council, and any citizen who had a real problem with him always had the option to get on an agenda and let him have it. I don't recall that happening, so on the whole I'd say he did as fair a job as you could ask of him dealing with all the competing interests this Town has. We will be well served if his replacement is as patient and respectful as he was.

Bob, good luck to you in whatever you pursue, and thank you for your service to our Town.

Good Luck Bob!