Middleboro utility head resigns
MIDDLEBORO —
John P. Granahan has resigned as general manger of the town’s Gas & Electric Department.
John F. Healey, chairman of the Gas & Electric Commission, declined to discuss the details of Granahan’s resignation, saying his board would make a full disclosure at Wednesday’s meeting in Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
According to Treasurer and Collector Judy M. MacDonald, Granahan’s buyout is $223,373, which includes $125,900 for eight months severance pay; $48,850 in unused sick time and $48,623 in vacation time.
In a letter dated Aug. 7, Granahan said he was “irrevocably resigning” from his position and released the town from liability.
Granahan was hired as the utility’s business manager in 1999, at a salary of $68,000. By 2008, his salary was bumped up to $135,000 and then increased to $188,000 in 2009 when he was named general manager.
Granahan was paid $196,277 in 2011. His salary was the highest of any public utility manager in the state.
His refusal to provide the town treasurer with a copy of his contract prompted over a year of intense public scrutiny and sparked a flurry of public record requests as well as Open Meeting Law complaints. The controversy contributed to the election of two new Gas & Electric commissioners.
John F. Healey, chairman of the Gas & Electric Commission, declined to discuss the details of Granahan’s resignation, saying his board would make a full disclosure at Wednesday’s meeting in Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
According to Treasurer and Collector Judy M. MacDonald, Granahan’s buyout is $223,373, which includes $125,900 for eight months severance pay; $48,850 in unused sick time and $48,623 in vacation time.
In a letter dated Aug. 7, Granahan said he was “irrevocably resigning” from his position and released the town from liability.
Granahan was hired as the utility’s business manager in 1999, at a salary of $68,000. By 2008, his salary was bumped up to $135,000 and then increased to $188,000 in 2009 when he was named general manager.
Granahan was paid $196,277 in 2011. His salary was the highest of any public utility manager in the state.
His refusal to provide the town treasurer with a copy of his contract prompted over a year of intense public scrutiny and sparked a flurry of public record requests as well as Open Meeting Law complaints. The controversy contributed to the election of two new Gas & Electric commissioners.
Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x356062500/Middleboro-utility-head-resigns#ixzz22xJ34cyS
Middleboro utility board takes action on general manager
John Granahan, general manager of the Middleboro Gas & Electric Commission
Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x2069500209/Middleboro-utility-board-takes-action-on-general-manager#ixzz22xK1Q9jX
MIDDLEBORO —
Gas & Electric Commissioners this week stepped up the pressure on General Manager John P. Granahan after months of controversy over his contract and other utility issues.
On Tuesday, the utility commissioners voted to take actions regarding the general manager and his department, including:
After the meeting, Murphy said he did not support the measures because “it would be an admission I didn’t know what I was doing.”
The actions came after questions surfaced over the validity of Granahan’s appointment as general manager. After reviewing previously unreleased meeting minutes, Chairman John F. Healey contended Granahan’s 2009 appointment and succeeding pay raises were invalid because they were not ratified in open session, as required by state law.
When proposing to hire labor counsel to defend the commission, Healey said, “Mr. Granahan has lawyered up, and rightly so. It is important the commission be represented. ... We need to have an attorney that represents our position.”
Granahan’s personal attorney attended Tuesday’s meeting, but did not address the commission.
The commissioners agreed to send a letter to Granahan’s attorney establishing ground rules during the dispute. They agreed Granahan will continue to perform the duties of general manager, but did not concede his contract is valid and binding.
“The situation is not of our making. It grew out of a culture of arrogance,” Healey said, pointing to a pattern of secrecy that led to alleged Open Meeting Law violations.
On Tuesday, the utility commissioners voted to take actions regarding the general manager and his department, including:
- Break off contract negotiations with Granahan.
- Hire labor counsel to defend the commission.
- Interview four prospective firms to complete a forensic audit.
- Require Granahan to report daily to the chairman.
- Notify Granahan’s attorney the commission is not conceding his contract is valid.
After the meeting, Murphy said he did not support the measures because “it would be an admission I didn’t know what I was doing.”
The actions came after questions surfaced over the validity of Granahan’s appointment as general manager. After reviewing previously unreleased meeting minutes, Chairman John F. Healey contended Granahan’s 2009 appointment and succeeding pay raises were invalid because they were not ratified in open session, as required by state law.
When proposing to hire labor counsel to defend the commission, Healey said, “Mr. Granahan has lawyered up, and rightly so. It is important the commission be represented. ... We need to have an attorney that represents our position.”
Granahan’s personal attorney attended Tuesday’s meeting, but did not address the commission.
The commissioners agreed to send a letter to Granahan’s attorney establishing ground rules during the dispute. They agreed Granahan will continue to perform the duties of general manager, but did not concede his contract is valid and binding.
“The situation is not of our making. It grew out of a culture of arrogance,” Healey said, pointing to a pattern of secrecy that led to alleged Open Meeting Law violations.
Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x2069500209/Middleboro-utility-board-takes-action-on-general-manager#ixzz22xJq7H5N
No comments:
Post a Comment