NORTHFIELD — Town Administrator Willie Morales will remain on administrative leave “until an agreement is reached” regarding the future of his employment, Selectboard Chairwoman Tracy Rogers said Thursday.
Rogers said Morales’ attorney told the Selectboard on March 29 that Morales did not want to return to work at Town Hall, which was why she made the executive decision, under advice of the town attorney, to place Morales on a paid administrative leave. She made the executive decision rather than schedule a meeting with the Selectboard because Selectboard meetings must be publicly posted at least 48 hours beforehand, and time was of the essence.
Morales’ attorney, Keith Minoff, said he could not comment on whether he had communicated to the Selectboard that Morales no longer intended to return to his job at Town Hall. Minoff said Morales informed him on that Friday that he had been placed on administrative leave.
Morales had previously said, on March 29, that he hoped to continue his work in Northfield. This was reported in last Saturday’s Recorder.
The future of Morales’ employment was put in question when the Selectboard voted on March 28 for Northfield’s attorney to begin negotiations with Morales’ attorney regarding a “separation.” In that meeting, the Selectboard listed 10 complaints about Morales’ work. Minoff said those negotiations have begun.
Several residents voiced their concerns over the Selectboard’s handling of the situation at a well-attended board meeting on Tuesday. Some suggested a new town governance committee be formed to examine potential alternatives to Northfield’s current government model.
The Selectboard is scheduled to meet in executive session on Monday, April 9, to discuss how to proceed with Morales.
Contact Max Marcus at 413-772-0261, ext. 261, or at mmarcus@recorder.com.