Pownal Town Administrator Terminated By Select Board

The Berkshire Eagle  reports following an executive session on Monday, the Select Board voted unanimously to terminate Town Administrator Michael Walker, and scheduled his post-termination hearing for Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Board members said they could not comment on the reason or reasons for the termination.

The termination goes into effect after the post-termination hearing; the specific time will be determined with help from the town lawyer. Walker did not attend Monday's session.

He could not be reached by press time Monday night.

Walker became the town's first administrator in July 2018, following the creation of the position through a town meeting vote in 2017.

He was placed on paid administrative leave by Board Chairman Bryan Harris on Nov. 1 for reasons the board has not publicly disclosed.

When asked if the board had a plan to hire a new town administrator, Harris said that Walker "is still actively employed as the town administrator, so nothing is going to happen now."

The board also voted to use the newly appointed town agent, Rebecca Dragon, as liaison in the personnel matter involving the town administrator.