On Friday, Jeffrey Payne, zoning director, officially turned in a letter of resignation.
According to Roy Mann, president of the board of trustees, Payne’s resignation came as a result of Roberts’ firing, but he would not offer many other details about the resignation.
Mann also declined comment on the termination of Roberts, who served as administrator for five years.
“Len Roberts is a personnel issue, and we normally don’t discuss personnel issues,” Mann said.
Johnson, who served as the vice president on the board, was not given a reason for Roberts’ firing.
“The other trustees told me he was an at-will employee, and they did not need to give a reason,” Johnson told this news organization. “I know the sacrifices the administrator made, so I made one on his behalf and quit.”
With Johnson out, Mann and James McGuire are the remaining trustees serving on the board.
Roberts could not offer a reason for his firing either, saying only that he served “at the pleasure of the board” and that “they don’t need a reason” to fire him.
“A new trustee (McGuire) came in, and this is the second time he’s introduced a resolution to fire me,” Roberts said. “He finally convinced another to go along with him.”
Roberts says the resignations of Johnson and Payne were a reflection of the discord among members.
“They’re both very frustrated,” Roberts said. “You can’t continue to have the staff pulled in three different directions. Trustees weren’t talking to each other, weren’t making good decisions together. They did what they thought they had to do.”
Payne and McGuire weren’t able to be reached for comment on this story.
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