Outpouring of Support for Willis

More than 20 people attended the April 17 Selectmen's Meeting, most of them to voice their support of Highway Superintendent Craig Willis and to urge the Selectmen to do whatever is possible to keep him as Highway Superintendent. 
"I think Craig does a remarkable job," said Lois Neuman.  "He's been consistently effective at doing his job and keeping us all on the roads."  That sentiment was echoed by many, including Julio Granda: "The job the road crew has done up on the top of [Washington Mountain] road is incredible.  I've never seen the roads as good as they are now."
Selectman Richard Grillon explained that most recently a letter was sent to the Ethics Board.  The result of that is that Willis may not be able to perform certain tasks he has in the past.  Selectman William

Cawley clarified that the letter complained that Willis worked on things other than the roads, including park and cemetery maintenance.   He said that Willis had also arranged for the road crew to transport the metal bin from the Transfer Station to a metal collection site.  Cawley notes that it will cost significantly more to dispose of the metal if the Town has to pay for an outside carter. 
Many in the audience questioned why Willis had become a target.  Grillon explained that "ever since we got rid of John Conner we've had a sense of being at war.  In fact, there was a declaration of war.  I don't know why we're at war; I simply know that we are.  We've tried to be low-key and deal with each battle as it has come up.  We've tried to show that we're competent and that his [Craig's] crew is the best."
Most people present urged the Selectmen to send letters to Town Counsel

Sally Bell and the Attorney General to find out what recourse the Town has to end what they saw as years of harassment of a town employee.  "Surely we have a constitutional right to protect our employee from this kind of persecution," said Lyle Larson.  Others agreed to write a petition for residents to sign to show their support for Willis.  Still others suggested that residents send letters to the Ethics Committee to give it a fuller picture.

Grillon on the Mend

Selectman Richard Grillon reports that he suffered a minor heart attack--"there was very little damage to the heart," he says--and has undergone procedures to correct the problem.  He expects to return to Town Hall in a few weeks.