• Barre police chief is denied copy of department 'management report'

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  Chief Demetropoulos
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  By James F. Russell
  Correspondent

  
  Posted Apr. 3, 2016 at 7:34 PM
  Updated at 11:28 PM
  
  
  

  BARRE - Selectmen and the town administrator have refused to provide Chief Erik J. Demetropoulos a copy of the Police Department “management study,” a document that the board discussed at a public meeting on March 28.

  Selectmen said the document provided justification for them not renew the chief's contract, which expires June 30.

  The town administrator says the release of the document is under review by town counsel. The town was billed $8,300 for the work.

  The Telegram & Gazette requested a copy of the report on March 29. The newspaper has also requested the scope of services selectmen may have provided to the consultant, which would describe exactly what type of work product they were seeking.

  Contacted Sunday, Chief Demetropoulos said it does not seem fair that he would not be provided that report in view of the fact that it discusses the agency he supervises, and negatively affects his employment with the town.

  At the March 28 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, William B. Connors Jr., the owner of Risk Management Advisors, discussed his report on the Police Department. Chief Demetropoulos said he was allowed to see the document before the meeting, and had questions about it, but was not allowed to have a copy.

  The chief also said the town administrator told him via email Thursday that she was aware of his request and "will respond accordingly once verified it can be released," he said in an email statement.

  Ms. Lemieux was asked about the chief not having been provided a copy, when it might be available, and to elaborate on its contents.

  In an interview Sunday, she said redactions to the document may be necessary before releasing it to the chief. The administrator said the document addresses personnel matters that could be confidential, and therefore exempt from disclosure under state public records law. Ms. Lemieux said the document is being reviewed by the town’s labor counsel, Southampton attorney Fernand J. Dupere, and the chief could receive a copy "as soon as reasonably expected.”

  Asked why the names of police officers in a management report would not be a public record, the town administrator said there is “potential invasion of personal privacy - and the potential the town could be sued” for transgressions.

  Selectmen voted 2-1 in November not to renew the chief’s contract when it expires June 30. The chief's contract requires the board to notify him at least six months in advance, should they opt against renewing it.

  Selectmen voted again last week on whether to retain Chief Demetropoulos. The board voted 3-0 against keeping him, meaning he will be out of the job come July 1.
  

  Asked if there was anything in the Connors report to justify parting ways with the chief, Ms. Lemieux said: “It was a management study. It identified problems in the police department for years - essentially, problems the chief was unable to resolve.” The administrator declined to state what the problems might be.

  “The goal was to see if there was a resolution to be worked out, and the consultant said no,” Ms. Lemiuex said.

  Asked if RMA was qualified to review and make judgments on operations management issues, Ms. Lemieux said: "I was impressed by their qualifications, and they came highly recommended."

  The bargaining unit representing the town's officers, Barre Police Association, Mass Coalition of Police Local 340, released a statement Sunday agreeing with the Connors report and the selectmen's decision to part ways with the chief.

  The union statement offers no specific examples of problems. Asked about the lack of substantiation in the letter he provided, Police Officer Christopher Snow, the union president, declined to comment. The union president said he had not been provided a copy of the Connors report, but said he had read it.

  In criticizing some media reports, the union letter states: "It is our strong opinion, that the report generated by Risk Management Advisors needs to be considered in its entirety, rather than the selective approach, opinion, and interpretation of a partial sentence spoken by a representative of Risk Management Advisors."

  In a related matter, the town clerk has certified that residents obtained enough signatures to go forward with a recall petition seeking to oust Richard P. Jankauskas, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

  More than 600 residents signed a petition that asserts the recall is needed because of Mr. Jankauskas' "undermining public safety and public trust. Deliberately disrupting the activities and morale of town departments and failing to carry out the duties he was sworn to uphold as selectman for which position he was duly elected.”

  At Monday’s meeting, Mr. Jankauskas will be presented with an official notice, after which he has five days to resign if he chooses; otherwise, the matter will be decided at the polls.

  Should Mr. Jankauskas not resign, a special election would be scheduled asking voters whether he should be recalled.

  If a recall measure is approved, a second election would be scheduled, with candidates on the ballot running for the seat, and Mr. Jankauskas would be allowed to run to regain the office.