The Rockland Selectmen released findings of an investigation into conduct by Sewer Commissioner, Charles Heshion.
During Tuesday’s meeting posted on the WRPS Rockland YouTube channel, Selectman Chair Mike O’Loughlin read an executive summary provided by Town Counsel John Clifford.
The investigation started in August after allegations were brought against Heshion. It found Heshion violated open meeting law, deleted emails to and from residents, and had abusive conduct towards town officials and employees.
O’Loughlin commented on the mater after reading the summary.
“The fact Mr. Heshion chose after being advised by Town Counsel of the Open Meeting Laws and the violations that he’d already committed, to continue to act in this manner, it’s unbecoming,” said O’Loughlin. “The way that he treated a couple of the individuals at the sewer plant, it was also unbecoming. Had he’d been a salaried town employee; it would have been grounds for termination. However, being that he is an elected official, that’s up to the residents at the polls.”
Heshion was re-elected in 2020, and has a term running until 2023.
The investigation, conducted by Clifford, included review of extensive email files and interviews of persons with knowledge of the matters.
The investigation found emails were sent to fellow members of the commission, where Heshion expressed opinions about matters before the commission. This was a violation of Open Meeting Law, and Heshion was warned by Clifford and attended a training session on Open Meeting Law in late September.
According to the summary, Heshion acknowledged he deleted emails to and from residents regarding Sewer Commission issues, even though they must be preserved due to public records law.
The Selectmen and Sewer Commissioners Heshion, Daniel DuRoss, and Douglas Cope met in executive session on November 29 to discuss findings of the investigation. The Selectmen voted to report the violations to the Attorney General’s Division of Open Government.
“The Board further determined that Mr. Heshion had engaged in conduct that was abusive and disrespectful to other town officials and employees. Mr. Heshion was advised by the Board that the town will not tolerate such conduct, particularly, when directed at subordinate employees.” O’Loughlin read from the summary. “The Board of Selectmen will take corrective action if employees are subjected to any further abusive or disrespectful conduct – particularly if such conduct is determined to relation against any person involved in this investigation.”
Selectman Rich Penney commented after, saying the findings were not disputed by Heshion.
“So the only comment I have on this, was that the findings that we had, and that are detailed in this – not one of them were denied or opposed by the individual that the investigation was about,” said Penney. “There was nothing in there that we found during the investigation that the individual said ‘no this is not accurate.’ Just wanted to make sure everybody understood that.”
The town is in the process of finding its fourth sewer superintendent in two years after Keith Nastasia left in November, citing a toxic work environment.
