By Beth David, Editor
Town officials are being pretty skimpy with details, but sources have reported that Fairhaven Building Commissioner Chris Carmichael is no longer reporting to work.
Mr. Carmichael had been on a medical leave of some sort for several weeks, although, he may have been conducting inspections during that time. He returned to the building on Monday, 4/4, but then abruptly left on Thursday, 4/7.
Sources revealed that Mr. Carmichael had been asked to leave the building.
Fairhaven Police Department spokesperson Lt. Kevin Kobza confirmed that police were asked to be present while Mr. Carmichael left the building.
Lt. Kobza said Mr. Carmichael was not “escorted” out of the building, but police were simply present.
“I will refer you back to the Town Administrator,” said Lt. Kobza, when asked for details of the situation.
He said the police were simply asked to be there, and there were no problems.
Fairhaven Town Administrator Angie Lopes Ellison, who began work on 4/4, would not discuss the situation.
“My response is, it is a personnel matter and I do not discuss personnel matters in any public forum,” said Ms. Ellison.
When pressed for details, as to whether or not Mr. Carmichael is on administrative leave, paid or unpaid, etc., Ms. Ellison simply repeated that it was a personnel matter, and added: “And it’s being dealt with appropriately and in accordance with personnel policies and HR best practices.”
In a followup interview, Ms. Ellison did say, speaking more generally, “There have been no staffing changes made,” since she was hired.
Mr. Carmichael did not return a phone call asking for comment on this story.
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