Attorney For Michael Hartman Threatens Legal Action Against Stoughton

STOUGHTON, MA — Michael Hartman is threatening legal action against the board following a vote to name Town Accountant William Rowe the interim town manager.

Tuesday night, Selectman Michael Sullivan attempted to read a letter from attorney Robert Hennigan, Jr. to board Chairman David Sousa, but barely got four words in before being asked to stop.

"It’s attorney-client privilege, let the courts handle it," Sousa said.

"It’s not, it’s a letter sent to us," Sullivan replied.

Selectman Peter Brown said he was not opposed to talking about the letter in executive session, but asked for the letter to not be read publicly.

"Reading that letter could be detrimental to this board, so I’d ask you to refrain from that," Brown said.

Motions to enter executive session failed.

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In the letter, Hennigan, who represents Hartman, said that the board did not follow the requirements set by the town charter to discharge a town manager. Hartman, whose contract to serve as town manager ended June 30, became an at-will employee on July 1, with four votes needed from the selectmen to formally discharge Hartman of his duties, according to the charter.

A vote to discharge has yet to happen and Hennigan said a December vote to not renew Hartman's contract did not terminate his employment with the town. Hennigan cited Phillip Farrington and Mark Stankiewicz as examples of town managers who served as at-will employees after their contracts expired.

Hartman has said he will return to Town Hall when he returns from leave July 14, with the threat of legal action if he is unable to perform the duties of the town manager.

Rowe has been the interim town manager since June 29, when he was appointed to the position during a heated selectmen meeting. In a press release, Sousa dismissed the argument that the vote was unlawful and in violation of the town charter.

At Tuesday's meeting, Selectman Robert O'Reagan asked if town counsel assisted in the crafting of the release. When Sousa said they did, O'Regan said he would vote against paying the bill when it comes in.

The board was scheduled to address the issue of the town manager Friday afternoon at a special meeting where the only agenda item listed was "To Consider and Appoint an Interim Town Manager." That meeting was canceled Wednesday by Sousa, according to the town's website.

Below is the full letter:

Image: File Photo