HOPEDALE — The town is looking for a new town administrator after Diana Schindler resigned this month, accusing the Select Board in October of not fulfilling its obligations “by not setting goals and objectives for me to implement.”
Schindler’s last day was Nov. 18. Her resignation letter, which cited frustration working with the three-member Select Board, was read by Select Board Chair Glenda Hazard during an Oct. 24 board meeting.
“While I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work in Hopedale since 2020, given that the Board didn’t fulfill its obligations regarding my contract by not setting goals and objectives for me to implement, it has made it impossible for my performance review and contract renewal to be administered fairly and effectively,” Hazard said in quoting Schindler’s letter.
Jeff Nutting, who retired after 18 years as Franklin’s town administrator in 2019, started this week as interim town administrator in Hopedale. Since leaving Franklin, he has served as an interim municipal manager in several places, including Norfolk, Lancaster and Sterling.
Nutting told the Daily News on Monday that he expects a search process to begin early next year, possibly wrapping up in the spring. He said he was not interested in the permanent position.
New challenge: Hopedale Town Administrator Diana Schindler arrives as COVID-19 fears intensify
“I think during the holiday season it is harder to get going with the recruitment process — not a lot of people are looking to make a move during December,” Nutting said. “I’d guess that a process will get going in the new year and probably be filled before May.”
Schindler, who was hired in the spring of 2020 to replace Steve Sette, couldn’t be reached for comment.
But during the Oct. 24 meeting, Hazard accused fellow board member Brian Keyes, as well as other town officials, of driving Schindler from the community and making it more difficult for Hopedale to hire a replacement.
“I can’t help but want to thank Brian Keyes and the band of persistent past and present town officials who have successfully created a hostile work environment for the town administrator,” Hazard said at the time. “And I also wanted to thank them for impeding our efforts to get a future town administrator, because I’m sure that any candidate that Googles ‘Hopedale’ is just going to run in the other direction.”
Did town make ‘colossal mistake’?
The third member of the Select Board, Bernard Stock, added that the political climate in Hopedale has become toxic, and that those who wanted Schindler to leave have made “a colossal mistake.”
“There is a cult almost, who have made it their task, almost like how a python kills something,” he said. “It just kept squeezing and squeezing, almost on a daily basis, creating an unbelievably horrible work culture in Town Hall to force her out. This is a colossal mistake, letting this person go. Let me tell all of you out there that have danced over this resignation: Be careful what you wished for, because the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.”
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Keyes declined to respond during the Oct. 24 meeting, but voted to accept Schindler’s resignation.
The Select Board is expected to address the search for a new administrator during its next meeting on Dec. 12.
Schindler was hired after Steve Sette resigned to become town manager in Uxbridge. Sette had been in the position since 2013, taking over from longtime Hopedale official Eugene Phillips.
Stock, a former Hopedale town administrator himself, praised Schindler’s ability as a grant writer and her ability to get much needed revenue to support the small town.
“People hire town administrators based on need,” he said during the Oct. 24 meeting. “Do you know what this town is? It is cash poor, and we are about to say goodbye to an individual who knows how to write grants exceedingly well. Last week there was a check for $40,000 from the state for the study to dredge the pond. The Water and Sewer Department is looking at a $2 million grant due to her work.
“Grant people don’t fall out of trees, they are rare individuals, (and) this is a huge mistake by this town to let this talent get away.”
Keyes files complaint in Hopedale
Jesse Collings
The Milford Daily News USA TODAY NETWORK
HOPEDALE — Select Board member Brian Keyes has filed a letter of complaint against board Chair Glenda Hazard following comments Hazard made during a board meeting in October.
In the complaint, dated Oct. 31, Keyes wrote that Hazard’s statements about him regarding the resignation of former Town Administrator Diana Schindler during an Oct. 24 Select Board meeting were reckless and inappropriate, and mentions taking potential legal action.
“In the discussion of acceptance of the resignation of our town administrator, Diana Schindler, you proceeded to make a direct and blatant statement and accusation against me that I find to be not only wildly inappropriate and unprofessional, but also slanderous and defamatory in nature,” the letter states.
Keyes said he spoke with town counsel about the matter and was advised to submit the letter.
“I have also informed them that in the coming weeks I will be consulting a personal attorney to evaluate my options of litigation against either you directly or against the Town of Hopedale/ You as Madam Chair of the Select Board,” Keyes wrote.
When reached by the Daily News, Keyes and Hazard each declined to comment.
During the Oct. 24 meeting, the three-member Select Board (the third member is Bernard Stock) discussed Schindler’s resignation and eventually voted unanimously to accept it. During the meeting, Hazard read a letter from Schindler.
“While I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work in Hopedale since 2020, given that the Board didn’t fulfill its obligations regarding my contract by not setting goals and objectives for me to implement, it has made it impossible for my performance review and contract renewal to be administered fairly and effectively,” Hazard said in quoting Schindler’s letter.
While the board was discussing whether to accept Schindler’s resignation, Hazard opined that Keyes and other town officials, whom she did not name, were responsible for Schindler’s resignation.
“I can’t help but want to thank Brian Keyes and the band of persistent past and present town officials who have successfully created a hostile work environment for the town administrator,” Hazard said at the time. “And I also wanted to thank them for impeding our efforts to get a future town administrator, because I’m sure that any candidate that Googles ‘Hopedale’ is just going to run in the other direction.”
In his complaint, Keyes said Hazard’s remarks are not based on any evidence. He added there is no record that suggests Schindler felt as if she was working in a hostile work environment.
“This careless statement is not based on a single shred of evidence and fabricated to your own liking,” Keyes wrote. “There has been at no time in the past a time when Diana had a conversation with me, as Chair, saying she felt she was working in a hostile work environment at all, nor is there any record of a complaint being
filed with the Select Board or our Town Counsel KP Law. Furthermore, there is also not a single reference to Diana enduring a ‘hostile work environment’ in her own written resignation letter presented to the Select Board that you read in public.”
Complaint not read during Select Board meeting
During a Nov. 21 Select Board meeting, Keyes’ letter of complaint was made public as part of the correspondence received by the board. When the board reviewed the correspondence received, Keyes inquired about reading the letter out loud during the meeting after Hazard said the Select Board had received it.
“Are you going to read that complaint?” Keyes asked during the meeting.
“No, it’s in the packet,” Hazard replied.
“Can I read the complaint?” Keyes asked.
“No, it’s in the packet,” Hazard answered.
Keyes then asked if he could provide an explanation or context to what the letter was about. Hazard replied by saying that because the letter mentions potential legal action, it shouldn’t be discussed. Keyes then asked town counsel if they could comment on it, with a member of town counsel replying that it is up to the chair (Hazard) on how to proceed.
“I guess I will just live with being censored on it,” Keyes said. “More to come on it, I urge everyone to go to the correspondence and read the letter. You’ll get the direct quote, go to the actual video of the meeting and hear the comments for yourself. You are right, there is a threat of litigation because I am very upset, it was completely over the line. And I just thought that the residents would like to know the reasons for the complaint.”
Hazard responded by saying the reasons are clearly stated in the complaint. Keyes disagreed.
“I guess people would probably want to know the root of your fabrication, of the root of the accusation, but I guess that isn’t as clear. I guess I should have put that in the letter,” he said.
Hazard said she didn’t feel like it would benefit the town or anyone involved to go into further detail.
“I think me not outlining why that wasn’t a fabrication, is not in the town’s best interest, or my best interest or even your best interest,” she said to Keyes. “I’m not going to do that in public session, and since we are clearly not on the same side, it wouldn’t be fodder for executive session either.”
The Select Board next meets on Dec. 12.