HOULTON, Maine — The union employees of the Houlton Ambulance Service and Houlton Public Works declared no confidence in the Town Council and Town Manager Cameron Clark in the aftermath of Clark’s arrest last month.
In a letter obtained by the Bangor Daily News on Thursday morning, the members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1828-05 and Local 220 said the council’s decision to let Clark remain in his position has not only hurt this town’s reputation, but it is affecting the morale inside and outside of town departments.
Two days ago, Houlton’s police union wrote a letter saying it had lost confidence in town officials.
“We stand behind Houlton Police Department Patrolmen and Dispatcher’s bargaining unit and their decision in declaring no confidence in the town council and town manager,” the ambulance and public works unions said in the letter to officials. “The alleged crimes are a risk to the safety and wellbeing of our town and its citizens. We, as a team, are distressed about the future of our town and the timeline moving forward.”
All full-time town employees, other than department heads and management positions, are covered by collective bargaining units, according to the town clerk.
The blowback from Clark’s September arrest on charges of felony victim tampering and domestic violence assault has only intensified the divide between residents, town officials and town employees after councilors said last week they were taking no actions against Clark.
Thursday’s letter, delivered in person to the Town Clerk Khylee Wampler, is among a growing list of public actions taken in response to Clark not being placed on administrative leave while his case works through the judicial system.
Along with the union employees in three of the town’s largest departments — with budgets totaling nearly $4 million of the overall $14.7 million — saying they’ve lost confidence in the manager and council, two town councilors, Jon McLaughlin and Alexis Brown, resigned on Friday, citing moral and ethical concerns. And a group of town residents began a process that would allow voters to oust elected officials.
Additionally, calls to place Clark on administrative leave until the matter is resolved are escalating, including a request by the president of the Maine Town, City & County Management Association.
“We believe that the town council should revisit their decision made regarding the town manager Cameron Clark and make a plan for the safety, security and honesty for the town of Houlton,” AFSCME members said in Thursday’s letter. “The Town Manager should be placed on immediate administrative leave pending his judicial and investigative process.”
A 24-page police affidavit obtained by the Bangor Daily News last week recounts explicit details of the Sept. 12 incident alleging Clark repeatedly shoved a woman he had invited to his home with both hands backward off his porch and into the bushes. The victim told investigators that Clark threatened to ruin her and she would never get another job in town if she reported it, the affidavit revealed.
Nonetheless, on Wednesday night, Town Councilor Erin Matthews said that she believes Clark remains the best person for the job, pointing to his financial and administrative accomplishments.
Countering Matthews, AFSCME members said that while Clark may have helped the town financially and structurally, “he has destroyed the moral and ethical compass we all live by.”
Following a moral and ethical compass is one of the highest priorities as a town employee, according to the letter.
“Seeing the leader of our town operating outside of that standard is disheartening,” they said.
The ambulance service and public works employees said in Thursday’s letter that as public servants, they work together as one. Day in and day out, they have served the town of
Houlton proudly as a group.
“[But] what was once a team of employees proud to work together and represent the town of Houlton has become a group of employees ashamed of the decision made by the town council,” they said. “We will continue to be dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of the town and serve our town during this time.”
