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Last Updated 10:38 PM Wednesday, September 08, 2010
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News
| 7/29/2010 12:30:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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St. Johnsbury Interim Town Manager Jim Fitzgerald, right, is leaving his post Friday. Behind him is Selectman Daniel Kimbell. |
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Interim Town Manager Resigns Friday
Resignation Comes After Heated Exchange
ST. JOHNSBURY - Interim Town Manager Jim Fitzgerald resigned late Monday night and plans to depart town employment at week's end.
Fitzgerald, who started the job on May 2, cited poor treatment from Selectmen Bryon Quatrini and Daniel Kimbell as the reason for the decision.
"I've enjoyed the people of St. Johnsbury and my work here, but the select board has three outstanding members and two who have never supported me from day one," he said. "In my judgement, they're not working for the betterment of the community. It's self interest. I don't want to work for them, and I'm not going to work for them."
The resignation came after Kimbell questioned Fitzgerald about his employment contract during the public portion at the Monday board meeting. Selectmen later entered executive session for the matter.
To cope with the resignation, board members plan to meet 6 tonight at the municipal building to discuss the next step. It likely means hiring another interim manager.
Selectman Rod Lamotte said he hates to see Fitzgerald go. His performance was terrific, Lamotte said.
"He was an awful good man," Lamotte said. "He put up with an awful lot with some of the town employees and some of the members of the select board. He was trying to get this town to be run like a business, like using purchase orders for example."
Lamotte said he doesn't blame Fitzgerald for resigning.
"I wouldn't put up with it either," Lamotte said. "I can't understand people treating people in that manner."
The resignation is another hurdle for St. Johnsbury, but "the sun will rise tomorrow," Lamotte said.
Selectman Bernie Timson is another fan of Fitzgerald's.
"I'm going to miss him," Timson said. "I think the man was doing a fantastic job."
Fitzgerald was the target of inappropriate treatment from Kimbell, Timson said. The contract matter on Monday should have never been discussed in public session, Timson said.
"I think Daniel Kimbell was totally out of line," Timson said. "I saw a side of Dan I did not like. The contract should not have been talked about in public. I thought that was wrong. It was very unprofessional. I hope they would never do that to Daniel Kimbell at his place of work in front of his employees. If we had gone into executive session, Mr. Fitzgerald would probably still be here."
Kimbell disputes accusations of unprofessional behavior. Questioning Fitzgerald about the contract in public session was appropriate, considering Fitzgerald talked about it at a board meeting last month, Kimbell said.
"Discussing that in public on Monday was the only right thing to do because he had introduced it at the last board meeting," Kimbell said. "It had already been made public by the town manager."
Kimbell said he had nothing but the community's interest in mind while questioning the interim manager. Kimbell said his treatment of Fitzgerald was completely fair, despite what other selectmen say.
"That's just the opinion of those three," Kimbell said. "The problem is that they don't see the issues the way I do. Everything I stated was purely looking out for the interest of the town, and holding [Fitzgerald's] feet to the fire. Sometimes that's hard, and may look unprofessional, but is necessary."
Kimbell hopes to move fast in the effort to replace the interim manager. Fitzgerald's resignation is an emergency situation that leaves St. Johnsbury in a lurch, he said.
"Too bad the person did not work out, and couldn't last until we had a permanent manager in place," Kimbell said. "I think it was overwhelming for him."
Kimbell was unhappy with the fact Fitzgerald started in St. Johnsbury at five days a week but has already reduced it to four and half. Fitzgerald also submitted a letter to selectmen last month stating he planned to leave St. Johnsbury Aug. 20, Kimbell said.
Fitzgerald later rescinded the letter saying he would stay until Oct. 1, and then consider working a few days a week beyond that if a permanent manager was not yet in place. It is another issue that made Kimbell question Fitzgerald's commitment to St. Johnsbury.
Fitzgerald also believed he was entitled to comp time, which was far from the case, Kimbell said. He is allowed time off for appointments such as visiting doctors, but no comp time, Kimbell said.
"There's no such thing as comp time for salaried employees," he said.
Fitzgerald earned $1,300 a week, though cut it to $1,250 when he went to four and a half days a week. He also cut his hour-long lunch break in half to compensate for the change.
Selectman Quatrini voted against hiring Fitzgerald as well but said he had no problem working with Fitzgerald. Quatrini also said Kimbell was completely in bounds while questioning Fitzgerald, and never crossed the line.
"Absolutely not," Quatrini said. "Not even close in any way, shape or form."
Board Chairman Jim Rust disagrees. If the board of selectmen was a board of directors, Kimbell would be resigning, Rust said.
Rust believes the incident is the product of bad blood between Kimbell, a former Milton resident, and Fitzgerald, a former Milton town manager.
"The bottom line is that Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Kimbell have some ancient history between them that has not been settled for a very long time, and it came out in public session, which is unacceptable," Rust said. "I believe if somebody researches any human resources manual you'll find that you never scold, discipline, or reprimand any employee in public session or in front of their subordinates. Once you've been denigrated in front of your subordinates there's no chance of getting their respect. I would encourage everyone to watch the Monday meeting on television, and think about somebody doing that to them in front of the people who work for them."
As for comp time, Rust said Fitzgerald was not entitled to it. Fitzgerald in an e-mail to selectmen misused the term, Rust said.
Unfortunately, some selectmen weren't the only ones to mistreat Fitzgerald, Rust said. Certain town employees are guilty of it too, he said.
"The lack of support he received was not the quality I would expect from the select board, the town clerk's office, and some of the department heads," Rust said.
Police Chief Rich Leighton and Fire Chief Troy Ruggles were very supportive and professional in dealing with the interim manager, Rust said.
"We still have a lot of great employees working for the town that go to work day in and day out and do their job," Rust said. "But we have some employees who go to work and think all day long about how they're going to disrupt the apple cart."
Rust said he was satisfied with Fitzgerald's job performance, and laments his departure. Fitzgerald was dropped into a tough situation, and handled it well, Rust said.
"I think he did a fantastic job," Rust said. "People that met him in the community liked him too."
The Next Step
To initiate steps to replace Fitzgerald, Rust has contacted the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. The league plans to assemble the names of several candidates willing to serve as interim manager for a few months while the search for a permanent position holder continues, Rust said.
It is unlikely selectmen would consider candidates who applied for the job last time around, including former Town Manager John Hall and former Economic Development Director Joel Schwartz. It comes down to availability, and the fact is it is unlikely the board would agree to hire them, Rust said.
In the the meantime, Rust said the league of cities and towns informed him that he, as board of selectmen chairman, is to handle the role of town manager.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Article comment by:
Dale Barnett
Once again, St. Johnsbury selectmen work in their own interest.
Posted: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Article comment by:
Charlie Welcome
Sounds like a real mess!
I hope it doesn't result in another business like Wal-Mart bypassing the town. Hope it all works out for the best.
Charlie W.
Posted: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Article comment by:
Dawn
It is time for Quatrini and Kimbell to leave the board. We try to teach our students in school that it is not okay to bully others, and we also teach our kids what to do when they are bullied. Here we have two public figures, selectmen and businessmen, using bullying and retaliation because they did not get their way. Enough is enough. Move on boys, and let people who are focused on St. Johnsbury's best interest take your place.
Posted: Thursday, July 29, 2010
Article comment by:
Mike Petrow
It's really a sad situation when someone who is obviously qualified for a position, decides to leave because of personal animosities with some board members. If that is truly the case, perhaps someone should investigate the Milton connection. As far as his relationship with other town employees, there should be either letters entered into their permanent files or some sort of reprimand is in order. After all, he is the boss. The town needs more forward thinking people like Leighton and Ruggles, both of whom I've worked with in the past and know quite well. Also, Timson and Lamotte seem to be in touch more with the townspeople than most and seem to echo their thoughts.
Perhaps term limitations are in order.
St.J was a nice little town when I worked at the PD and I would hate to see it backslide because of the antiquated ideas of a few misguided individuals.
Mike Petrow
Lakeland, Fl./Lyndon Ctr.
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