has also harrassed Jeff R - and Pat Mullins is guilty for just sitting back and not having a mind of his own (he only speaks when he is seconding all of Virginia's motions) Dumb - dumber - dumbest - these people are very dangerous - we need them all gone!!!!!
Templeton seniors scold selectman; Council on Aging
director is defended after officials' yearlong clash.
TEMPLETON - After a year of alleged threats and haranguing, Selectman Robert Columbus' campaign against the town's elderly services director didn't quite end the way he planned.
In a December letter to the Council on Aging, Mr. Columbus detailed a handful of allegations against its director, Doreen C. Noble, and concluded that the group should "examine the facts and make an appropriate recommendation to the Board of Selectmen." Instead, Mr. Columbus found himself yesterday inside the Senior Center - which had, for the occasion, become a makeshift courtroom - being aggressively dressed down by Ms. Noble's lawyer.
When it was all over - that is, after Mr. Columbus gave some nonspecific
replies and then took his seat - a Council on Aging member told him he must
re-evaluate the way he deals with problems. Then, the council unanimously
agreed to put the issue behind it, and praised Ms. Noble for her work.
And that, apparently, is that.
The conflict apparently began in January 2006, when a broken heating system leaked carbon monoxide into the Council on Aging building. Employees were feeling sick, and Ms. Noble had the building evacuated. She called the town health agent, and then the Board of Selectmen.
The health agent arrived shortly after, as did Mr. Columbus. But instead of focusing on the problem, Ms. Noble said, Mr. Columbus berated her for not coming to work a few days before. He is her boss, he allegedly told her, and she needs to listen to him.
As it turns out, Ms. Noble was legitimately off work that day. It was a snowy day and the local schools had closed; when that happens, the Senior Center closes as well.
Mr. Columbus denies that he was aggressive with Ms. Noble. He said he was simply passing along a message from the selectmen, and it wasn't intended to be mean-spirited.
From that point on, their encounters tended to be confrontational, and according to Ms. Noble, he once told her she "would be a very sorry little girl, and there would be payback."
At a selectmen's meeting in September, Mr. Columbus was vying to become chairman. Ms. Noble was in attendance and spoke up, claiming he is difficult to work with and would be a hindrance to town departments. He is, she said, a totalitarian.
A few days later, Mr. Columbus wrote Ms. Noble's annual job evaluation. She is "disrespectful
And that, apparently, is that.
The conflict apparently began in January 2006, when a broken heating system leaked carbon monoxide into the Council on Aging building. Employees were feeling sick, and Ms. Noble had the building evacuated. She called the town health agent, and then the Board of Selectmen.
The health agent arrived shortly after, as did Mr. Columbus. But instead of focusing on the problem, Ms. Noble said, Mr. Columbus berated her for not coming to work a few days before. He is her boss, he allegedly told her, and she needs to listen to him.
As it turns out, Ms. Noble was legitimately off work that day. It was a snowy day and the local schools had closed; when that happens, the Senior Center closes as well.
Mr. Columbus denies that he was aggressive with Ms. Noble. He said he was simply passing along a message from the selectmen, and it wasn't intended to be mean-spirited.
From that point on, their encounters tended to be confrontational, and according to Ms. Noble, he once told her she "would be a very sorry little girl, and there would be payback."
At a selectmen's meeting in September, Mr. Columbus was vying to become chairman. Ms. Noble was in attendance and spoke up, claiming he is difficult to work with and would be a hindrance to town departments. He is, she said, a totalitarian.
A few days later, Mr. Columbus wrote Ms. Noble's annual job evaluation. She is "disrespectful
to supervisors" and "unwilling to adjust to
change," he wrote. Upon seeing that, the Council on Aging demanded a new
evaluation.
"Doreen goes out of her way to work cooperatively with all departments," the group wrote in a letter to selectmen.
A new, more positive evaluation was written, and Mr. Columbus said it was time for everyone to move on. The Council on Aging agreed.
But in December, Mr. Columbus sent a letter to the council, detailing complaints he has against Ms. Noble. Among them, he wrote that she opposed his nomination as chairman during the selectmen's meeting, and that she was "rude, very disrespectful and insubordinate
"Doreen goes out of her way to work cooperatively with all departments," the group wrote in a letter to selectmen.
A new, more positive evaluation was written, and Mr. Columbus said it was time for everyone to move on. The Council on Aging agreed.
But in December, Mr. Columbus sent a letter to the council, detailing complaints he has against Ms. Noble. Among them, he wrote that she opposed his nomination as chairman during the selectmen's meeting, and that she was "rude, very disrespectful and insubordinate
" toward
him.
That set up yesterday's hearing, held by the Council on Aging in the Senior Center. About 20 seniors sat in folding chairs on one side of the room; on the other was the council, Ms. Noble, Ms. Noble's lawyer and a court reporter the lawyer had brought.
The lawyer, Nancy Binder, mostly ran the show. She called witnesses - Ms. Noble, some co-workers and acquaintances - and had them all take an oath, administered by the court reporter. They spoke of the times Mr. Columbus allegedly harassed Ms. Noble, and of how much work she does for local seniors.
Toward the end, when Mr. Columbus raised his hand to speak, Mrs. Binder demanded that he take the oath and step up to "the stand," which was just an area of the floor.
He began defending himself, saying he never threatened Ms. Noble, but Mrs. Binder quickly jumped in. She asked: Wasn't he acting in retaliationfor Ms. Noble's actions at the selectmen's meeting? She wanted details: When was Ms. Noble, as he wrote, rude and insubordinate?
He mumbled. He looked down, or rifled through a stack of papers he was holding. He said he couldn't remember specifics.
"You expect this board to believe, after everything that they've heard today, that this is not a retaliation?" she asked him in a stern, lawyerly tone.
"They can believe whatever they want," Mr. Columbus said.
And they did.
One member, Bayard Peabody, got up and gave a long speech, which he said he had practiced the night before. Mr. Columbus will be forgiven, he said, but this must be a learning experience.
"You've got to be careful about how you approach things, and that what you were doing was wrong," Mr. Peabody told Mr. Columbus.
That set up yesterday's hearing, held by the Council on Aging in the Senior Center. About 20 seniors sat in folding chairs on one side of the room; on the other was the council, Ms. Noble, Ms. Noble's lawyer and a court reporter the lawyer had brought.
The lawyer, Nancy Binder, mostly ran the show. She called witnesses - Ms. Noble, some co-workers and acquaintances - and had them all take an oath, administered by the court reporter. They spoke of the times Mr. Columbus allegedly harassed Ms. Noble, and of how much work she does for local seniors.
Toward the end, when Mr. Columbus raised his hand to speak, Mrs. Binder demanded that he take the oath and step up to "the stand," which was just an area of the floor.
He began defending himself, saying he never threatened Ms. Noble, but Mrs. Binder quickly jumped in. She asked: Wasn't he acting in retaliationfor Ms. Noble's actions at the selectmen's meeting? She wanted details: When was Ms. Noble, as he wrote, rude and insubordinate?
He mumbled. He looked down, or rifled through a stack of papers he was holding. He said he couldn't remember specifics.
"You expect this board to believe, after everything that they've heard today, that this is not a retaliation?" she asked him in a stern, lawyerly tone.
"They can believe whatever they want," Mr. Columbus said.
And they did.
One member, Bayard Peabody, got up and gave a long speech, which he said he had practiced the night before. Mr. Columbus will be forgiven, he said, but this must be a learning experience.
"You've got to be careful about how you approach things, and that what you were doing was wrong," Mr. Peabody told Mr. Columbus.
Pauly, Are you saying that Sue, the Deputy Assessor has either left her job or has been fired?
ReplyDeleteSorry should have clarifted that - Sue Adams left the Treasurers office shortly after Tammy - couldn't take the BS
DeleteJust got a peek at the posting of the BOS agenda for Thursday April 12th at 6:00 pm. GUESS what is up for discussion? Discuss a temporary appointment for the Town Coordinator position. HMMMM...wonder who they could be bringing back?
ReplyDeleteHow much is left in the town coordinator salary account after the $14,000 settlement to get rid of Ritter? Maybe one of those retirees could do the job as a senior tax work off program so it won't cost the town any money. We all know "Team Columbus" wants to save the town money.
This move should really help the override effort! I really want to increase my taxes to support this type of leadership. Anyone want to change their vote on the poll about the override? Hard to believe there are ten people who support this stupidity...I guess it's not really that hard to believe. They voted for Wilder (the Liar) and Mullins(The Thief) in my opinion.
Okay team columbus, we the people will have to set the budget for you, no money for conservation agent, no money for town planner, no money for affordable housing coordinator, set legal budget at 45,000.00, no money for any elected position besides town clerk, which gets a 10% wack right off. cut library salaries amount by 6 grand. We need volunteers to "patrol" library and watch if any unethical behaviour such as running personal business on town time being done. AND RECALL WILDER AND MULLINS AUGUST 2012. We need over 200 people to be at thursday selectmen meeting.
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait to see what the legal bill is going to be for the month of March. This should be a real winner. From the way things sound, Bubba has kicked the hornets nest, and he is not going to be able to out run them. Keep pushing your luck, and you will know a angry croud when you see one. The over ride has about as much chance of passing as a snowball in hell. Keep frittering away the tax payers money, and have the gall to think they will give you more. OH YAH...Like thats going to happen.
Delete