WINDHAM – After five years on the Windham Town Council, West District representative Matthew Noel abruptly resigned Tuesday night, following the appointment of David Nadeau as the new council chairman.

Noel, who could not be reached for comment, has not offered an explanation for the Nov. 18 resignation, according to Councilor Thomas Gleason.

“He said he was too busy,” Gleason said. “He didn’t give a reason or anything.”

Noel was known as a fiscally minded councilor who guided the budget process as a member of the finance committee. He was integral in the cost-cutting measure Windham adopted in 2010 to consolidate dispatching services with Cumberland County.

Noel was elected to office with the November 2009 “Winds of Change” that also brought Scott Hayman, Bill Tracy, and the late Peter Busque to the council. After winning re-election to a second three-year term in 2012, Noel served as council chairman from 2012 to 2013. In November 2013, the defeats of Kevin Call and Peter Anania left Noel as the sole remaining councilor identified with the development-friendly “Winds of Change” stance. Shortly after the 2013 election, the council voted to appoint Gleason as chairman.

According to his LinkedIn account, Noel is the chief operations officer of TrakTek, a Windham-based custom label company affiliated with Anania’s investment firm, Anania & Associates Investment Co. From 2004 to 2012, Noel worked as director of engineering at Alere Inc. in Scarborough. From 1991 to 2004, Noel worked at UFP Technologies in Georgetown, Mass. Noel graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1986.

At his last council meeting on Nov. 18, Noel abstained from numerous votes appointing officers, including the unanimous vote to appoint David Nadeau as chairman. He did, however, offer a comment on Nadeau’s appointment.

“I don’t know if Dave wants it, or can do it,” Noel said.

Nadeau could not be reached for comment on Noel’s departure.

Noel officially resigned in a text message to Town Manager Tony Plante the following day, writing that his resignation was effective at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Gleason said he will miss Noel’s presence on the council.

“We might have arguments and stuff like this, but we did get along and got things done,” Gleason said. “I’m upset that he’s gone.”

The last Windham councilor to resign from office was Bill Tracy in 2010, according to Plante. Plante said the town charter requires the council to attempt to fill the vacancy.

“According to the charter, when there’s a vacancy that occurs during the year, it’s up to the council to choose someone to fill that seat,” he said. “What process they use is entirely up to the council.”

Gleason said the council will be careful with its approach to Noel’s resignation. According to Gleason, the council is not likely to appoint someone to fill the vacancy. In 2011, the council chose not to appoint a new member after Busque’s death, opting to wait until the next election.

Matthew Noel