Templeton town administrator resigns, citing hostile work environment: A 2-minute read
Sandy Meindersma- Templeton Town Administrator Adam Lamontagne submitted his resignation citing unfair treatment and privately incurred legal bills related to his employment.
- Lamontagne claims he is being unfairly targeted by the Select Board and is unable to perform his duties due to a pending hearing against him.
- Lamontagne maintains he acted in the best financial interests of the town and its taxpayers.
Citing privately incurred legal bills, an upcoming hearing about a complaint filed against him and several other complaints about his performance, Templeton Town Administrator Adam Lamontagne tendered his resignation.
In a letter dated March 4, 2025, Lamontagne stated he had incurred $2,616.20 in legal bills due to his employment and that he considers it "unfair" and "not right for any employer to do this to any of their employees." The letter continues that Lamontagne has always acted in good faith looking out for the taxpayers and residents of the town.
Lamontagne's last day in Templeton will be March 17, according to his letter. This represents two-weeks notice to the town of his departure.
The letter also states Lamontagne previously had to defend himself from an unfair evaluation during his previous review, and that a previous Select Board had sought but failed to hold a hearing against him. Lamontagne also states that the pending hearing is being used as a weapon against him by the board and that he is unable to perform his job duties.
According to MassLive, the complaint against him was filed by Narragansett Regional School District Superintendent Christopher Casavant.
Lamontagne is quoted by MassLive as saying "It was for the finances of the town. My job as chief financial officer is to make sure the budget is balanced and doing my fiduciary responsibility, I have due for the taxpayers of the town."
The hearing is scheduled for March 18, according to MassLive.
What is Adam Lamontagne's experience
Lamontagne was hired by the town in 2018 as a management fellow, later promoted to Assistant Town Administrator, and became Town Administrator in 2020. He is the town's first full-time town administrator.
Lamontagne previously served on the Chicopee School Committee and City Council, but left the council to become a police officer in the city, although he returned to public administration before joining the force.
What's next
The Select Board will consider its next steps at its Wednesday, March 12 meeting, according to the agenda. In addition to considering the town's next steps regarding a town administrator, the Board's agenda includes an open meeting complaint and a request from Clerk Jeffrey Bennett for Chairman Michael Currie to step down as Chair.
Currie was chair when Lamontagne was hired. He has also service on the Advisory Board and Veteran's Advisory and OVersight Board, according to his LinkedIn page.
This is just a glimpse into the behind the scenes BS that goes on in our Town Hall.
ReplyDeleteWhen Selectboard members avoid accountability, hide facts from Taxpayers and avoid policy, procedure and bylaws, state law and Contract law and act out on emotions or personality differences to bully citizens and employees the taxpayer suffers.
Mr Currie needs to go NOW
I'm hoping Templeton finally decides to hire a competant TA, not an in house trainy. We've had enough on the job training in the Selectboards office to last aa lifetime....
How about we hire a professional this time rather than another unqualified trainee. We've literlly had nobody in the Selectboard office who isn't trained on the job in a disfunctional enviroment.
Casavant has Currie in his back pocket because he wants an override. Adam was presenting a no override budget and Currie did not like that . Wait and see what he does now that he bullied Adam out. Casavant is throwing a victory party at Curries house. Vote for no override.
ReplyDeleteIf you were aat Fall Town Meeting you heaaard Mr Currie tell the audience the I didn't know what I was talking about, that I was somehow misrepresenting our finaancial condition to Town Meeting.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be reminding Mr Currie of this at every chance. He misrepresented our financial shape so Town Metingwouldn't vote to use Free cash rather than CAPEX to fund balance of Senior Kitchen.
Mr Currie has a wierd relationship to facts and truth
7:23 pm comment is from me.
DeleteBob May