ROCKLAND, Maine — The longest serving city employee enters a third month on paid leave.
Raymond Athearn was put on paid administrative leave in May. Joseph Piccone, the business agent for the Teamsters Local 340 that represents public services workers in Rockland, said Wednesday that Athearn remains on leave.
Piccone said he would have a statement after he reads a response sent to him by the city this week and is able reply to the city.
Athearn has worked for Rockland since the fall of 1963.
The Rockland City Council honored Athearn in April 2014 for more than 50 years of service. Athearn said he has done it all in working for the city: driving trucks, plowing and sanding roads, digging ditches and picking up trash. He most recently worked as the attendant at the city’s transfer station.
Rockland City Manager James Chaousis has declined to comment on the matter, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters.
The city has also contracted with Laurie Bouchard of L. Bouchard and Associates LLC to advise the city on some personnel issues, the manager said. The city is paying the human resources consultant $150 per hour for on-site work and $75 per hour when she works remotely.
Bouchard is working on updating job descriptions, Chaousis said. The proposal from Bouchard also states that she is assisting with staffing challenges within the newly-formed public services department and to improve its overall performance.
Her services offer include assisting “directly with problem resolution, which may include assisting management with coaching, counseling and/or disciplining employees, facilitating training, or implementing other measures that might be appropriate for the situation,” according to her proposal.