HOULTON, Maine — Houlton was left without a governing body on Friday when most of the Town Council resigned after placing the town manager on leave in the aftermath of his September felony arrest.
Immediately following the unanimous vote to place Cameron Clark on leave, Council Chairperson Jane Torres and Councilors Jim Peters and Erin Matthews resigned.
Town Manager Cameron Clark, who is on daily Department of Corrections supervision and must abide by an overnight curfew, will be on administrative leave until his criminal case is resolved. He was charged with tampering with a victim, which is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, and domestic violence assault charge, which is a Class D misdemeanor.
Despite the unanimous vote to place Clark on leave, the three councilors who resigned reaffirmed their dedication and commitment to Clark during an emergency Town Council meeting on Friday afternoon. Their resignations mean that no town business can be conducted during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting and local businesses hoping for approvals will not be able to move forward.
“On Tuesday, a local small business cannot have its liquor license renewed, the council cannot consider a recommendation to enter into a settlement agreement to avoid further litigation and legal expenses,” said resident Mark Lipscombe, who was expecting to learn the outcome of a town decision at the next meeting. “It will also prevent the consideration of a Community Development Block Grant application for Serendipitous Dragonfly.”
During Friday’s emergency meeting, Town Clerk Khylee Wampler was appointed assistant town manager and will take over day-to-day operations in Clark’s absence. But according to the town charter, no decisions can be made until the two remaining councilors, Edward Lake and Eileen McLaughlin, appoint at least three members to the council who are willing to serve for one month until the November election.
The council must have four members and a chairperson to form a quorum, according to the charter.
A 24-page police affidavit obtained by the Bangor Daily News last week alleges that on Sept. 12, Clark repeatedly shoved a woman he had invited to his home off his porch and into the bushes. The victim told investigators that Clark threatened to ruin her if she reported it, the affidavit revealed.
Torres, Matthews, Lake and McLaughlin said they still believe in Clark and his ability to lead the town, and blamed community members for their decision to resign. Torres, Matthews and McLaughlin each cited hateful vitriol, name calling and blame directed at the council, though no councilor reported harm taking place.
On Wednesday, the Bangor Daily News asked Matthews about specific threats and she said they were related to hateful blaming.
“As council chair I believe that recent threats directed toward the council have created an environment that is no longer conducive to effective government,” Torres said. “Cameron Clark has distinguished himself as one of the most effective and proactive leaders I have had the opportunity to collaborate with. My support for Cameron Clark is unwavering.”
The council’s decision came as calls to place Clark on administrative leave escalated and tensions deepened between residents, town employees and town councilors.
Just this week, three of the town’s largest departments — with budgets totaling nearly $4 million of the overall $14.7 million — declared a loss of confidence in the manager and council and a group of residents began a process that would allow voters to oust elected officials.
“There is a very large group of you who have not shown kindness and have actually shown so much hate and discontent that I fully believe that what you are fighting for or how you are doing your fights is worse than what you are fighting for,” Matthews said as she resigned.
Matthews took on the councilor role because she thought that the town could change, she said, adding that she realized that is not the case because Clark is the man who could have done it.
“We have been called names, we have been criticized, we have been crucified,” she said. “There are many mistakes being made today.”
“Today, each of the three reaffirmed their absolute commitment to Cam and his being god’s gift to town management. If this was their true reason for protecting him, then resigning en bloc completely contradicts that,” Lipscombe said. “They flipped the proverbial table over on their way out, depriving the council of a quorum.”
