The city of Westbrook isn’t done dealing with recent faux pas by its officials.

City Council President Brendan Rielly said he’s been hearing from constituents concerned about the city’s reputation in the wake of a councilor’s public death wish for Gov. Paul LePage and the assistant city administrator’s email mocking members of the community.

Rielly has called an executive session of the City Council Wednesday to consult with the city’s attorney about the council’s legal rights and duties in response to the latest incident – a mocking email sent by Assistant City Administrator William Baker to Mayor Colleen Hilton in February that was made public last week.

“We have a duty to respond to the public to apologize and let them know what immediate and concrete steps are being taken to prevent anything like this in the future,” Rielly said.

In the email, riddled with expletives, Baker made fun of people involved with a public art project, the creation of a fish passage along the Presumpscot River, and My Place Teen Center, among others, about their involvement in city government.

Westbrook resident Deb Shangraw, who was among those named, received the email in response to a public records request for information regarding a budget concern and read it aloud at a City Council meeting last week.

Baker issued an apology last week for his “reckless written words,” but also blamed his frustration on a “group of mean-spirited people with a harmful political agenda,” including some of those named in the email.

Rielly said he would like to see “a full apology from (Baker) and the mayor,” as well as training on the use of public emails.

Hilton said last week that she provided “coaching and counseling” to Baker after receiving the email, but doesn’t intend to discipline him.

Rielly said the council does not have authority over decisions regarding personnel.

Neither Hilton nor Baker responded to a request for comment Tuesday.

Rielly and Hilton both called for the resignation of Councilor Paul Emery last month, after he stood up at a town hall-style meeting and said he wouldn’t mind if the governor “goes to see his maker,” then lamented that assassination isn’t considered a legitimate political strategy in this country.

The City Council voted on a resolution condemning Emery’s comments and urging him to consider “whether his continued service on the City Council is in the community’s best interest.”

Emery, the only councilor to vote against the resolution, has said he does not plan to resign.

“Our reputation has taken significant hits recently,” Rielly said. “We need to rebuild trust.”

The council meeting Wednesday starts at 6 p.m. There will be no opportunity for public comment, Rielly said.

 

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