Politics & Government

Mansfield Passes On Former Stoughton Town Manager

Michael Hartman was one of three finalists for the Mansfield Town Manager opening, but the selectmen went with Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas.

MANSFIELD, MA — Former Stoughton Town Manager Michael Hartman was one of three candidates interviewed for the Mansfield Town Manager position Monday night, but he will not be working for the town anytime soon.

Despite calling Hartman a strong candidate, the Mansfield Board of Selectmen picked outgoing Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas for the opening. Mansfield Finance Committee Chairman Walter Wilk received one vote of support, compared to Dumas' four.

Mansfield has been without a town manager for about nine months due to the abrupt departure of Bill Ross, who left for reasons never publicly announced.

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Hartman said he has been doing some consulting since his contract in Stoughton expired. He is currently taking legal action against the town over his ousting, arguing that the selectmen needed four votes to discharge him, despite his contract ending on June 30. A Norfolk Superior Court judge ruled in a preliminary injunction that Hartman received six months notice when the Stoughton Board of Selectmen voted in December 2016 to not renew his contract and a discharge vote was not needed.

The case is still pending in court.

Find out what's happening in Stoughtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


Image Credit: Dan Libon

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