ROCKLAND, Maine — The city manager’s firing of the longtime harbor master was upheld Wednesday evening by an appeals board.
City Manager James Chaousis said after the ruling that he wants to put the matter to rest. After the appeals panel’s decision to uphold the Jan. 8 firing of Ed Glaser, the city manager released his dismissal letter to Glaser at the request of the Bangor Daily News.
The manager said that Glaser violated the city’s policies concerning the use of the Internet and emails, employee harassment, and City Council and city manager directives. He also cited Glaser’s “demonstrated lack of judgment regarding professional conduct and colluding with other public officials.”
Glaser also subverted the Freedom of Access law by conducting city business through personal email and social media, according to the dismissal letter.
In addition, the manager determined that the harbor master had undermined the city manager and City Council policy decisions.
And finally, the manager found that Glaser had egregiously misused city-provided computers and work time for non-city business, including to access pornographic materials and for partisan political involvement.
Glaser declined to comment when contacted after the ruling.
The three-member appeals panel met behind closed doors for more than three hours before reaching a decision.
The firing was the third disciplinary action taken against Glaser by the manager in six months.
In June 2015, Chaousis placed Glaser on paid leave for four days, reinstating him in time for the annual Rockland Lobster Boat Races.
The manager did not give reasons for the suspension, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters. But the first suspension came in the wake of Glaser clashing with councilors over a proposed increase in harbor fees. Glaser had opposed the hike.
Glaser then was suspended for a week without pay in October.
Concerning the second suspension, Glaser has said he was accused of acting unprofessionally, a claim he disputed. He appealed the action and announced in October that he was retiring on Feb. 1, 2016.
In November 2015, Chaousis reversed the unpaid suspension and reduced it to a written warning. Chaousis said he reduced the penalty after hearing Glaser’s appeal and in consideration of Glaser’s retirement announcement.
“Conformance with policy and city rules are miniscule in the context of your announcement to retire,” Chaousis said in his Nov. 4 letter to Glaser, rescinding the suspension. “The end of a professional public career, whether long or short, is a moment to pay respect for your service.”
But on Jan. 8, citing personnel reasons, Chaousis again fired Glaser just days before his scheduled retirement. The end result of the firing being upheld is that Glaser will not receive an undisclosed amount of pay for accrued vacation and sick time.