OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Public Works Director Bill Robertson is appealing a decision to terminate his employment. The matter will be discussed by the town council in a closed-door executive session tonight.
In a letter to Robertson dated Feb. 1, Town Manager Mark Pearson said the town elected not to renew Robertson’s contract, and his last day of employment with the town would be April 5.
The town charter gives Pearson authority to terminate the contract, stating, “Any employee to whom the town manager may appoint a successor, may be removed by the town manager.”
In the letter, Pearson gave reasons that included “public expressions of animosity toward the town manager,” unprofessional management style, and failure to adequately manage and oversee public works contracts and expenditures.
Also among the reasons Pearson gave was Robertson’s failure to attend a mandatory training session on conducting personnel performance reviews.
Robertson was placed on administrative leave in December.
In an email Robertson wrote in December to Town Council Chairwoman Sharri MacDonald, he said he had received an angry phone call in October from Pearson asking why he wasn’t at a training course about how to evaluate employees. Robertson said in the letter that at the time of the call, he was covering for his office manager, who was away at a conference, and he was working with BBI on taking the necessary actions to remedy an oil spill from a BBI truck.
Robertson also mentioned in the letter an incident where Pearson drove by the public works building, looked in the window and drove off.
“Now, this action clearly suggests threatening, bullying or stalking,” wrote Robertson.
Neal Weinstein, Robertson’s attorney, said when Robertson found out that he was being terminated, “He was shocked.”
Weinstein said Robertson does high quality work. He said Robertson has saved the town a lot of money by overseeing work himself instead of bidding it out, and has fixed problems from poor quality work done in the past.
“I’ve heard nothing but accolades,” said Weinstein.
Town Council Chairwoman Sharri MacDonald said Robertson was put on administrative leave without the council being informed of the decision, and there’s been a lack of information from town administration regarding the decision to terminate Robertson. She said the decision to terminate Robertson’s contract has put the town through added stress that it does not need.
“I think the public works department under Bill’s guidance has been phenomenal,” said MacDonald, “He’s done a fantastic job.”
MacDonald said when Robertson was hired, one of the qualifications that made him desirable was that he was a professional engineer. She said he has saved the town a lot of money and is “under budget every time.”
In an emailed response to questions from the Journal Tribune, Pearson said, “I will honor and respect Maine state law and not comment on any personnel matter.”
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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