On Jan. 8, City Manager James Chaousis had informed Glaser in a letter following a disciplinary hearing that his termination followed a personnel investigation. The investigation had been conducted by Chaousis.

The letter was made public following the hearing. It cited alleged inappropriate conduct on the part of Glaser occurring between April and December, 2015. The letter said Glaser violated city policies regarding Internet use and email, employee harassment, city council and city management directives. 

Glaser said Wednesday evening that he preferred not to comment on the Grievance Committee decision, saying in an email, “that while I'm disappointed in their decision, the Grievance Committee was made up of good people who I believe gave it a fair hearing.”

The committee comprised Rockland Personnel Board member Patricia Wotton, Code Enforcement Officer John Root, and city Finance Director Virginia Lindsey.

Wotton declined to comment on the hearing and decision, citing personnel confidentially laws.

Chaousis said after the hearing and deliberation that he had appointed Lindsey to the Grievance Committee given that she had been recently hired by the city and therefore is impartial.

Joanne Billington, who is chairwoman of the Personnel Board, had asked Wotton to take her place on the committee.

Glaser had asked Root to be on the committee.

City personnel grievance procedure dictates that a grievance committee consist of a city department head not party to the grievance and a city employee selected by the aggrieved, as well as someone from the personnel board. The personnel board consists of citizens who are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council.  

Chaousis said, “John [Root] is also very good at being objective and looking at the black and white.”

He said the presentation of evidence took until 4 p.m., when the Grievance Committee convened in private. Both Chaousis and Glaser left the room. 

Wotton, acting as chairwoman of the committee, delivered the decision to the two. 

After the decision, Chaousis declined to elaborate further on evidence he cited in the letter, saying only, “it is exactly as the statement suggests.”

He cited personnel laws of state of Maine, which protect an employee’s privacy.

He also declined to say why he decided to fire Glaser one month ahead of the date when Glaser told the city he had planned to retire from his position as harbor master, a post he has held since 2004.

The city had circulated notice that it was accepting applications for the harbor master position prior to Glaser’s employment termination. Glaser had notified the city in October that he was planning to retire February 1.

“I overwhelmingly support moving on after this and getting back to City of Rockland’s important business,” said Chaousis.

Asked what that business entailed, he said: “Municial solid waste, recycling, site plan plan review, standards for natural gas power plants, budgeting, and massive subjects that is heart of public policy.”

The Rockland City Council is meeting tonight to possibly engage another attorney for personnel issues.

The council is responsible for hiring three city personnel: the attorney, city manager and city clerk.

Chaousis said he would not be at tonight’s council meeting.

“My services are not needed for tonight’s meeting,” he said.

Chaousis had initiated personnel investigations Dec. 31. In an unprecedented move, the council convened a three-hour meeting Jan. 1 to discuss personnel issues.