Roger Challen

[Neil Rossen]

Roger was on the BOS. Here is his latest note on the election this
Monday:

The investigation is closed – unbelievable!!!!! This whole thing, as
many thought, appears to be TOTALLY much ado about nothing. And our
BOS spent over six months and thousands of dollars, while creating a
workplace of intimidation and mistrust for our employees. The BOS
decided that all this was “necessary” to deal with an issue that
should have been resolved in a fraction of the time, and for no
dollars.

The “official” statement (printed below) was delivered by the BOS
lawyer, Mr. Lampke, Esq. He read it at about 11PM Wed night in an
open meeting at the Townhouse (after 3.5 hours of meeting in a closed
executive session). I should add that NO questions were allowed from
anyone (people who had waited hours to hear the result).

Let me point out that Vera Kolias, our ex-Town planner, had stated
unequivocally earlier in the evening at an open joint meeting between
the Planning Board and Personnel Board that she would have never even
have begun to look for employment elsewhere if not for the
investigation. Read the sentence in the BOS statement about that
(underlined and in italics), where the BOS claim that they “had
absolutely nothing to do with Ms. Kolias’ resignation“. Please. Do
we taxpayers really want to continue to place our trust in the BOS?
Our employees are asking that same question.

I conclude that the BOS behavior was and is even more egregious than I
thought before. Mr. Lampke Esq, in his statement about “legally and
morally obligated” seems to be trying to justify the BOS expenditure
of our taxpayers’ money on his and the other legal fees (are you
buying this. folks?). And apparently, the only single correction to
what had been publicized or blogged (now remember, the BOS had claimed
that people had the facts wrong), was that it was not the entire group
of eight people who were under investigation – only four of them were
intimidated in that way… the other four were put in perhaps a worse
position for all those months, being muzzled and grilled, and forced
to be witnesses, AGAINST their friends and co-workers… and for what?
As we are finally now informed – for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING…”no wrong
doing”.

I attended candidate’s night at the library on Tuesday, and after
listening John Rooney explain how every effort should have been made
to handle this matter quickly, inexpensively, and with minimal
employee distress, I then listened to Sal Giorlandino claim that he
had done “GREAT” things for the Town as a Selectman… I wonder where
you would put this on that list.

I am still in disbelief about this COLOSSAL waste of time and money,
not to mention the loss of an excellent employee, and the affect on
the dignity and productivity of other employees. I stayed awake last
night thinking that, to me, this is the all time low point in
Southborough’s BOS “leadership” No wonder so many important issues
in this Town go ignored.

Roger Challen



Statement of the Board of Selectmen. May 5, 2010


Due to allegations received by the Town, the Board of Selectmen was
legally and morally obligated to have the matter reviewed.

The Board wishes to state that after a thorough investigation of the
matter by Jnmes B. Lampke, Esq., the Board has accepted his finding
and has concluded that there was no wrong doing and thus no discipline
is warranted as relates to Jean Kitchen, Vanessa Hale, Vera Kolias and
Karen Galligan.

Also, contrary to reports, Carla McAuliffe, Brian Ballantine, Fire
Chief John Mauro and Doreen Ferguson were only among the witnesses and
were never the subject of the investigation.

It should be further noted that Police Chief Jane Moran was not the
source of the complaints or matters that were reviewed which led to
this situation.

The Board wishes to emphatically state its support and respect for all
the employees of the Town and in particular those involved in this
matter. The employees want to reassure the Board and the residents of
the Town that they will continue to work together for the benefit of
the Town of Southborough.

The Board would like to take this opportunity to comment on rumors
regarding former Town Planner Vera Kolias. Any idea that Ms. Kolias
was asked to leave her position as Town Planner is completely false.
The Board of Selectmen had absolutely nothing to do with Ms. Kolias's
resignation. It knew her as an outstanding and dedicated employee who
left her position solely on her own initiative to make a positive
career move. The Board wishes Vera Kolias the very best in the future
and regrets her departure as a great loss to the Town of Southborough.