ROCKPORT — Rockport's town manager is on leave of absence, according to Rockport Select Board Chairman Bill Chapman.

"All leaves are paid to the best of my knowledge," said Chapman, Tuesday morning, Jan. 29.

Town Clerk Linda Greenlaw is acting town manager in Robert Peabody's absence.

When asked why Peabody is on leave, Chapman said, "I cannot say." He added, "There are a number of reasons somebody could be on leave."

He said there is no time limit to Peabody's leave.

Chapman confirmed that another personnel complaint had been filed with the town, and that it was copied to the chairman of the board, as well as the town manager.

"I think it's somebody different," he said. "We have to treat this with the same reserve and delicacy."

He declined to say anything more about that complaint and said there are no meetings yet scheduled to discuss the second complaint.

An anonymous source said Tuesday, Jan. 29, the subject of the second complaint is not the town manager.

The core issue arises from a personnel complaint filed Dec. 28 with Chapman, a complaint that has since generated meetings; consultations with Portland-based town attorney William Plouffe, of the Portland firm Drummond Woodsum; the hiring of an investigator, Attorney Melissa Hewey, also from Drummond Woodsum; and memos circulated to town staff, including one on Jan. 3 outlining a schedule by which town employees would be able to voluntarily talk with the investigator.

•The Select Board met Monday evening for three hours behind closed doors.