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CHELSEA

July 28, 2010

Staff turnover continues at Town Office

Six town employees have quit their posts in the past 11 months

By Mechele Cooper mcooper@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

CHELSEA -- Staff turnover continues at the Town Office.

Six town employees have quit their posts in the past 11 months. The newest to leave is Tammy Cunningham, of South China, hired in January as town clerk.

"I'm not divulging any information, but I am done," Cunningham said Tuesday.

Departures in the past 11 months include Carol Belanger, former deputy tax collector and deputy treasurer; Judy Jones, town clerk; Jean Mank, who replaced Belanger; Myra Drisko, responsible for deed transfers and veterans' and Homestead exemptions; and Town Manager Carrie "Kay" Khalvati.

Chelsea has had several town managers in the past few years. Lynette Eastman held the position for 10 months before she was replaced by Mary Sabins in 2006. Selectmen terminated Sabins' contract in 2007. Bob Drisko, former town manager who came out of retirement to help, quit as interim town manager in 2008.

Selectmen hired Khalvati to replace Drisko in October 2008. Khalvati was replaced in May by current Town Manager Angela Gordon, who signed a six-month contract that selectmen plan to revisit in the fall, said Carole Swan, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

Swan declined comment Tuesday on Cunningham's departure, saying Gordon would be better qualified to discuss the matter.

Messages left for Gordon at the Town Office were unreturned Tuesday.

Swan said Town Office staff is not the Board of Selectmen's responsibility.

"Those people don't work for the board," Swan said.

At the time Cunningham was hired, Swan said she had computer experience and was "good with the public."

Swan said Cunningham previously worked for a law firm in Gardiner as a legal assistant and bookkeeper but had no experience in municipal administration.

When Cunningham was hired, Swan said she would work a 35-hour week and be paid $17.50 an hour with no benefits.

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com

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