Levant selectmen’s secretary resigns, charges `infighting’

LEVANT — The decision to rescind some appointments made Monday by the Board of Selectmen was made easier Friday when the board’s administrative assistant and secretary resigned.

At the special meeting held by the board, Rhonda Turner, who had been appointed to both those positions March 26 by a vote of 3-2, told selectmen that she no longer wanted the position because of all of the internal problems and infighting within the board.

She said the town would be hard pressed to find its first town manager who would be willing to deal with all the personality conflicts and lack of cooperation in the board.

“There’ll be problems if you don’t all cooperate,” she said.

Discussion on revoking some of the appointments began with Selectman Robert Bemis who questioned whether Turner had the necessary qualifications and experience. He said the town faced many changes, including the changeover to a town manager government and wasn’t sure whether Turner was as qualified as she needed to be.

“This is a year of transition and we need all the help and experience we can get,” he said. He added later in the discussion that Turner did not have one-tenth the experience of the previous administrative assistant Marilyn Mullen.

Mullen had been administrative assistant for six years, town clerk for 23 years, and board secretary for more than 18 years. Mullen had resigned as secretary last December citing problems with some of the selectmen as the reason for her resignation.

“She is by far more qualified than anyone brought before us,” he said.

Not all selectmen agreed. Robert Pullen, the board’s chairman, said he was pleased with the work that Turner had done and still thought she was qualified for the job.

Bemis also said that board records would be safe if they were kept in Turner’s cellar as had been suggested.

Selectmen said the appointments had not been complete as none of the appointment papers had been signed by the board nor had the appointees been sworn in. The appointment papers had not been signed because not all of the nominees had been at last Monday’s meeting.

The board, consisting of three newly elected members voted Mullen in as their secretary and administrative assistant.