WHITMAN – Town Administrator Lincoln Heineman has taken a leave of absence, Select Board Chair Randy LaMattina announced after an executive session of the board on Wednesday, Aug.3.
“The town administrator is out on a leave of absence,” LaMattina confirmed Monday. “Unfortunately, I can’t say much more than that.”
He said the situation would eventually develop into less of a mystery, but for now he stressed that he was unable to say more.
The executive session, in accordance with MGL Ch. 30A sec 21A subsection 2 to conduct strategy sessions for negotiations with nonunion personnel – the town administrator – because an open session could have a detrimental effect on the town’s bargaining position.
“We need to announce the town administrator is on a leave of absence,” LaMattina said when the executive session was over. “What the board needs to do now is discuss an interim replacement in the meantime,” and entertained suggestions.
Select Board member Dr. Carl Kowalski recommended asking former Town Administrator Frank Lynam “if he could come in and help out as an acting town administrator.”
“Makes sense to me,” Select Board member Justin Evans said.
The board unanimously agreed to the suggestion, and Kowalski volunteered to make the call to Lynam.
LaMattina said Lynam started working Monday and will serve as the acting administrator on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“As far as any interruptions, we don’t foresee any,” LaMattina said. “Luckily, Frank has kept up enough, he was on the DPW Building Committee. He’s kind of kept in the know.”
The board will met in another executive session meeting Tuesday, Aug. 9.
“We will probably come out and announce we’ve come to an agreement with Frank as the acting TA,” he said. “I can’t imagine it’s going to be a very long meeting, but there’s a lot of formalities right now.”
The next regular meeting is set for Tuesday, Aug. 16.