Still no answers on town manager job after Buckfield Select Board executive session Wednesday
May 6—BUCKFIELD — Without commenting on the direction of the leaderless town office, the Select Board met Wednesday in executive session for nearly 45 minutes after calling an emergency meeting, and then abruptly recessed until Thursday.
Chairwoman Tina Brooks would only say they had a good discussion, that they would reconvene the meeting Thursday and would have an attorney present.
The reason for the executive session was to deal with a personnel issue.
Buckfield is operating without a town manager following the resignation of John Andrews on Monday. The board has not hired an interim town manager nor has it indicated a time line or a process to hire a new town manager. The board postponed two public hearings on the 2021-22 municipal budget that were scheduled for this week. No new dates have been announced.
The budget referendum is tentatively scheduled for July 13.
Andrews, who also serves in the state legislature, was hired as town manager six months ago in early November 2020. In his resignation letter he expressed his frustration with the Select Board and the tremendous amount of extra work that was required to run the town following the departure of the town office staff.
"Select Board meetings and board meetings regarding the budget have been hostile, argumentative and plagued by in-fighting among board members," he wrote. "This is a toxic environment, and I no longer want to be a part of it."
The Select Board will undergo a major makeover after the June election when the board increases from three to five members. Only current Selectwoman Cheryl Coffman is expected to remain. Brooks announced her intention to resign following the election due to family concerns. Martha Catevenis is not running for re-election.
