Embattled Dukes County manager E. Winn Davis formally resigned his post on Wednesday.

Following a tense county commission meeting that included a nearly two-hour executive session, the county manager, who has come under fire in recent weeks for a failed gambit to use federal disaster funds to repair the breach at Norton Point beach, read a brief letter announcing his resignation effective Sept. 14.

"I do so with regret, as I have enjoyed the past years, and I remain very proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved," Mr. Davis said, his voice wavering with emotion at one point.

In his prepared statement, Mr. Davis, 59, said he decided to resign because he felt his performance had become too much of a distraction over the past few weeks.

"Too much time and attention has been focused on me. This detracts from the very important job at hand. I believe in county government, especially the county of Dukes County and the important services that the county of Dukes County provides," he said.

The resignation comes at a time of great uncertainty surrounding county government, which is currently under examination by a charter study group elected by voters last fall. The group is charged with making recommendations for change or possibly abolishing county government at the end of 18 months.

Citing another reason for his decision, Mr. Davis said it had become apparent to him that the charter study committee had recently turned its focus to eliminating the county manager position.

"It seems likely my position will disappear in the near future. And during the charter revision process, it became obvious that the focus had become me - and not just the position of county manager," Mr. Davis told the Gazette just before he read his letter of resignation on Wednesday night.

But William O'Brien, the chairman of the charter revision commission, said yesterday he was caught off guard by Mr. Davis's assertions. Mr. O'Brien said the commission is currently considering a wide range of options, and is still months away from any recommendations.

"This whole process is still wide open. All we are doing right now is undertaking a study of all options," Mr. O'Brien said.

Mr. Davis also conceded that the recent boondoggle over federal funding for the breach at Norton Point played a part in his decision.

"It certainly didn't help," he said, before pausing to consider a more detailed answer. "I have said all along that in my role as county manager, it was not only my job, but my responsibility to seek federal relief funds when they were available. I feel strongly that I if I had neglected that responsibility, I could have been reprimanded for not doing my job."

When Mr. Davis read his letter of resignation later in the evening, only commissioner Lenny Jason offered a reaction.

"We haven't always agreed on everything, but I never questioned your sincerely or integrity," Mr. Jason said.

Following the meeting, commission chairman Paul Strauss shook Mr. Davis's hand and wished him good luck in his future endeavors. Mr. Strauss said the commissioners had received Mr. Davis's letter of resignation prior to the meeting, and said that he had anticipated more debate over the county manager's decision.

"I thought there would be a little more contention tonight, maybe a little more noise," Mr. Strauss said.

The meeting began with a measure of acrimony when commissioners debated whether to discuss the letter of resignation from Mr. Davis in open session or behind closed doors.

Mr. Jason pushed for the discussion to take place in the open.

"It's bad enough people don't trust [the county commissioners], and now we want to discuss this in the cover of darkness. If you ask me it's bad government," Mr. Jason said.

Commissioner Tristan Israel said he was not opposed to discussing the matter in the open, but suggested the executive session might be a better place for open discussion about the terms of Mr. Davis's resignation.

"The county manager has offered his resignation, and now we have to decide if we should discuss those terms in the open or [in executive session]. I have no problem doing it in the open, we have nothing to hide, my motive was to respect the sensitivity of the situation," Mr. Israel said.

This exchange was followed by an accusation from Mr. Jason that a subgroup of commissioners had met and agreed to push Mr. Davis to resign.

"I feel like I'm being pulled into a conspiracy of four commissioners who have made a decision without [the rest of the commission] . . . I feel it is illegal and it is immoral," Mr. Jason said.

Both Mr. Israel and commissioner Roger Wey later chided Mr. Jason for the accusation, calling it unfounded and inflammatory.

Labor attorney Michael Gilman advised the commission they had the right to discuss the matter behind closed doors on the grounds that it might include discussion of a potential litigation strategy.

The commission voted 4-3 to adjourn into executive session with Mr. Strauss, Mr. Israel, Roger Wey and Leslie Leland voting yes, and Mr. Jason, John Alley and Carlene Gatting voting no.

During the executive session the raised voices of county commissioners could be heard in the hallway of county administration building. Mr. Davis sat in his office and quietly did paperwork as commissioners apparently debated the terms of his resignation less than 10 feet away.

The county manager confirmed that he had been approached by two commissioners in recent weeks to discuss the possibility of his resignation.

Mr. Davis would not name the commissioners and said he harbored no grudge. "There are no hard feelings on my behalf," he said.

Mr. Strauss said that although the resignation is effective Sept. 14, Mr. Davis will leave the post on August 17 and take four weeks of paid vacation which he has earned.

Mr. Davis was hired as county manager in April of 2003 following a series of controversies that rocked county government. In January of that year, former county manager Carol Borer abruptly cleaned out her office and wrote herself a check for $22,000 in vacation and sick pay that she had approved for herself.

Later the former assistant to the county manager filed claims of harassment against several county commissioners. The county found itself entangled in another controversy later that year when a leading candidate for the manager position was accused of falsifying her resume.

In his statement Wednesday Mr. Davis said he will step aside for the good of all.

"It is very important that county governance continues for Martha's Vineyard, and I believe my continued presence will only impede that process," he said.