Michael Hartman Locked Out Of Town Hall Office

STOUGHTON, MA — Michael Hartman went to work at Town Hall Friday and found himself locked out of what was his office.

With town lawyers ordering interim Town Manager and Town Accountant William Rowe to not give Hartman the keys or access to his office, the apparently ousted town manager spent the morning in the Yaitanes Conference Room, on the phone with his lawyer, according to the Enterprise.

The lockout is the latest development in the Stoughton town manager saga. Friday was Hartman's first day back from his out-of-town visit with family while Rowe has been the interim town manager since a contentious 3-2 selectmen vote on June 29.

READ MORE:

• Attorney For Michael Hartman Threatens Legal Action Against Stoughton
• Selectmen Chairman Defends Decision To Appoint Interim Town Manager
• WATCH: Selectmen Replace Hartman As Town Manager During Heated Meeting

While the board voted in December to not renew Hartman's contact, a discharge vote as required by the town charter never took place. While Selectmen Robert Cohn, Peter Brown, and Chairman David Sousa contend that Hartman's tenure with the town ended when his contract expired on June 30, Selectmen Robert O'Reagan and Michael Sullivan say the town charter takes precedent over the contract.

In the letter sent to the selectmen, Robert Hennigan, Jr., who represents Hartman, said that the board did not follow the requirements set by the town charter to discharge a town manager. He said if Hartman was unable to perform his duties as the town manager Friday, legal action would follow.

Another issue for the board is a state law that says an interim town manager cannot also be the town accountant. An interim accountant has not been appointed.

The board was scheduled to meet Friday afternoon to discuss an agenda item titled "To consider and appoint an interim town manager," but that meeting was canceled Wednesday night and the item has been moved to Tuesday evening. The board will also meet in executive session to discuss potential litigation from Hartman.

Image: File Photo