Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Lawyer says West Boylston town administrator faces firing over Trump flag controversy
Town officials have scheduled a hearing to discuss the matter further on Monday afternoon.
Previously:
A lawyer representing the West Boylston town administrator says his client is facing imminent termination following a controversy over a Trump flag involving the town’s chief of police.
In a letter on Thursday, attorney John Clifford claimed that his client, James Ryan, has a “termination” hearing set for Monday afternoon and that the outcome is already a “foregone conclusion.”
However, Kristina Pedone, the West Boylston Select Board chair, says those statements are “inaccurate.”
“The Select Board has not made any decision, and Monday’s hearing is an opportunity for Mr. Ryan to fully respond to the allegations presented to him,” Pedone wrote in an email to Boston.com.
Clifford asked that the chief of police, Dennis Minnich, attend the hearing to be cross-examined, but said he was told by the town’s Select Board that he did not have to.
Advertisement:
In response, Pedone said that the hearing concerns Ryan’s “handling of a specific situation” and is “not focused on the Police Chief.” Therefore, his attendance is not required.
“It is evident that Attorney Clifford is attempting to shift focus away from his client,” Pedone wrote.
Since this is a “personnel matter,” Pedone provided no further comments.
The dispute started when Chief Minnich submitted a letter to the Select Board lodging a complaint against the town administrator, who began the job in January.
Minnich previously told Boston.com that a flag supporting President Donald Trump was in a gym used by officers, a space not visible to the public. When Ryan took a department tour, he asked Minnich to remove the flag, calling it a civil rights violation.
Advertisement:
Ryan allegedly asked another town employee to enter the police department to confirm that the flag had been removed. The employee then took a picture of a second flag that had been put up.
Minnich said he found “these actions highly concerning,” saying it was a “security violation.”
He added, “This is a trust issue, and if I can’t trust the guy I report to, I’m not coming back to work. Either you got to do something with him or me.”
Minnich said he plans to use vacation days through March 2, when his contract expires.
Minnich did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment on Clifford’s letter.
Clifford claims that the chief made several false statements about the incident and questions his references to his “professionalism” when he has told the Select Board to “(g)et rid of him, or get rid of me, because I’m not reporting to the guy.”
Clifford also claims that the board has not investigated the allegations and is proceeding with a “ready, fire, aim” approach to solving the issue.
Advertisement:
The controversy results from Chief Minnich “putting his own ego above the interests of his fellow officers and the Town,” Clifford wrote. “After the Town terminates Mr. Ryan Monday evening, this controversy will remain.”
“Residents will continue to be divided on this issue, but one outcome will be clear,” Clifford continued. “Chief Minnich will have established that he answers to no one, including the Select Board.”
The hearing will occur at 4 p.m. on Monday in an open session.
Clifford did not return a request for additional information on the subject.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com