02/29/2008
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Staff file photo by Jim Evans
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Staff file photo by Jim Evansfrom the Kennebec Journal
FAIRPOINT PLAN TARGETS DEBT
Wind project off Mass. meets strong resistance
Three bills seek tougher rules for petitioners
New rules for special education debated
Happy apples
AUGUSTA: Cuts to French curriculum run into opposition
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Hall-Dale drops MVC title game to Mountain Valley
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NOTEBOOK: Different stakes in Gardiner-Winslow rivalry
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
'At the time ... he was psychotic'
Man answers door, is attacked with Mace and then robbed
FairPoint reorganization plan aims to slash company's debt
Concerns over special-education changes aired
FAIRFIELD: Clinton man, 21, arrested on rape, assault charges
Stun gun, arrest of suspect end high-speed, 2-town chase
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY NOTEBOOK: Gardiner, Winslow take to ice again
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Skowhegan wins KVAC A title game
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Town Clerk Stacey Desrosiers used a portion of her submission for the 2007 annual report to voice her support for the outgoing town manager and to express her anger at the residents Desrosiers blames for Post's departure. Post will step down in June after 30 years.
"I have personally expressed to our Board of Selectmen that (Post's departure) is the wrong decision for the town," Desrosiers wrote. "Unfortunately, the outcome wasn't the one I asked for."
Desrosiers, town clerk for 15 years, said this week that she has no regrets about making her views public. But she said she understands the town report was not an appropriate forum.
"Probably, I should have listened to my town manager," she said, noting Post warned her about the repercussions. "But I don't regret writing it."
Peter Denbow, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said he was disappointed when he read the comments. He said the board will rethink the process for creating the reports.
"This has certainly awoken us to the fact that maybe the board has to review what goes into the town report," Denbow said.
Desrosiers, an elected official, begins her report with figures for marriage and death certificates and other standard information. She then shares her thoughts on Post's recent resignation.
"I hate the upheaval that has been going on for so long, which hasn't been healthy for the town," Desrosiers wrote.
Her report never names anyone in particular who is responsible for that upheaval and Desrosiers this week declined to identify who she was talking about.
"I'm not going to say any names," she said. "I don't do things viciously to people."
Resident Gary Jordan, however, is confident Desrosiers' comments are aimed at him and resident Dennis Smith, who have been Post's most vocal critics over the past several years.
"We're the ones who have presented documents to the board," Jordan said. "If you check the record for the last seven years, it's just (Smith) and me."
The conflict dates back more than 10 years and centers on the town's dispute with Jordan over a right-of-way. The town took a portion of Jordan's property by eminent domain. Jordan has accused Post of withholding information and misleading voters.
Since Post announced his resignation, residents have expressed support and appreciation for the job he has done, Desrosiers wrote.
"I wish some citizens, however, would have the strength, character and professionalism that our town manager has and put these qualities into a community to be proud of," she continued.
Post has done a commendable job "while trying to move forward enduring constant bombardment by unfounded accusations," Desrosiers wrote.
Desrosiers said this week she has never before used town reports to express opinions, but she felt it was important to stand up for the town manager.
"I feel like they're persecuting Larry," she said. "They're finding all the i's that are not dotted and all the t's that aren't crossed. I got caught up in the moment and I wanted to say what I felt personally. That's why I wrote it."
Desrosiers original submission, which has been given to selectmen, included stronger language that Post decided to cut.
"I allowed some latitude in what she said," Post said. "I think she said enough. It didn't need to be too lengthy and it didn't need to be too much in defense of the things I've done. I'm not comfortable with people defending me anyway. I did feel there were some of those comments that simply didn't need to be there, or shouldn't be there."
But comments should not be excluded merely because they are opinion, Post said. Selectmen and other officials often use town reports to lobby for equipment or policy changes.
But Denbow believes Desrosiers comments exceed those parameters.
"Things you put in your report should be factual to town business, maybe include goals," he said. "It shouldn't be a forum to expose your feelings one particular way on an issue that has occurred. She should have stuck to the facts of the town clerk's job. If she wanted to wish (Post) well, fine. But to criticize and point fingers, it's not the place for it."
While there are state laws governing what must be included in a town report, such as financial reports, towns have great latitude in deciding what else is included, said Michael Starn, communications director for the Maine Municipal Association.
"It doesn't say what can be said in a town report," Starn said. "It guides information that needs to be in a town report.
"It's like an annual report for any business or entity," he continued. "There's no absolute format that every town follows."
It is up to town officials to decide what is appropriate, but it is unusual to include personal opinions about a political situation. "It isn't typically used for that purpose, but that's not for me to judge," Starn said.
Jordan, however, believes the distinction is clear. The public document should not be used to further a personal agenda, he said. "It should reflect the ongoing activities of the town, not the ongoing problems of a dispute," Jordan said. "It's not the place for that. If they want to say something, come to a public meeting and voice your opinion there. Those remarks are not relevant to the citizens of the town other than it is a defense of the town manager against a private citizen."
Jordan said he is particularly miffed at Desrosiers claim of "unfounded accusations" and he resents Desrosiers insinuation that he and others who have questioned Post's conduct have behaved unprofessionally.
"I think I've handled myself pretty well under the circumstances," he said. "I've just pointed out things that are wrong."
Denbow is drafting a letter to Desrosiers, but said the board could not reprimand Desrosiers, even if it felt that was necessary.
"That's up to Larry," Denbow said. "Why would he reprimand her when he took what she wrote, crossed out a few things and then submitted it for publication?"
Denbow said he believes Desrosiers comments were motivated by affection for the town and Post.
"I don't think she did it maliciously to get her digs in," Denbow said. "We really like Stacey. She does a great job. Maybe this is kind of an oops."
If Desrosiers has any regret, she said it is using the town report to offer her opinions. But she makes no apology for holding those opinions.
"I've lived here for 33 years and what's happening has a lot of us upset," she said. "I guess as town clerk I should have kept them to myself, but I don't regret writing it."
Craig Crosby--487-3288
ccrosby@centralmaine.com
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