WINDHAM — An appeal hearing last night saw selectmen unanimously uphold the town administrator's one-day suspension of the planning director.
Administrator Dave Sullivan levied the day-without-pay suspension against Al Turner on Sept. 18 for "actions unbecoming" a town employee.
These were his failure to inform Sullivan of a meeting with representatives for local developer Herbert Associates. In addition, the developer had, in error, sent to Turner's office a fax addressed to Sullivan regarding the Porcupine Road detention pond - the site of contentious planning issues.
"This particular case was a violation against me," Sullivan said at the hearing's outset. He then called three witnesses, town employees Dave Paulson, Al Barlow and Dana Call, all of whom testified that one of Sullivan's managerial mantras is for employees to keep him informed of important matters.
Turner told selectmen he was "shocked" when Sullivan informed him of the suspension Sept. 18. He didn't think the punishment fit the infraction.
Furthermore, Turner said he could only suspect the suspension was retaliatory for an investigation the planning director sought from the state attorney general's office this summer.
Turner requested the investigation to clear his office's reputation after Selectman Charlie McMahon said during a public meeting in June that the planning director's office engaged in "extortion" by having developers perform off-site improvements.
Sullivan said he took great exception to the claim he was issuing the suspension in retaliation.
"In twenty years, I've never been questioned to my motives," he said.
The retaliation allegation seemed to generate some tension between Turner and Sullivan, who were sitting next to each other at a table before selectmen. Otherwise, the two were respectful of each other, even cordial when referencing their long-standing work relationship.
The men, who have worked together for two decades, shook hands when the hearing ended.
Selectmen sided with Sullivan, saying Turner should have delivered the fax to the town administrator and made sure he knew about the meeting with the developer.
Turner said he receives a lot of faxes and did not recognize this as one he should have redirected to Sullivan. In addition, Turner maintained there were numerous meetings with the developer at the detention pond and he didn't know Sullivan was expected at the one in question.
Unlike many appeal hearings for town employees, this one was held in public session at Turner's request. Selectmen did not announce when he will serve his one-day suspension.
About 15 people attended the hearing. It was followed by a nonpublic session over an unspecified grievance from an employee alleging a retaliatory action. No further details on the matter were available.
