BUXTON – Buxton has ousted longtime town employee Keith Emery from the town’s public works crew, marking the latest upheaval in the department.

Selectwoman Jean Harmon on Tuesday confirmed that Emery had left and didn’t resign.

“He was fired,” Harmon said.

Emery is also chairman of the town’s Planning Board.

On Wednesday, Emery and his lawyer, Caleb Gannon of Portland, met in the Town Hall behind locked front doors with the Board of Selectmen about his job. Emery, who had worked 13 years full time for Buxton’s public work’s crew, declined comment after the meeting.

Gannon said the meeting went as well as it could have and they would wait for a final decision.

“He doesn’t like to see it end this way,” Gannon said.

The four members of the Buxton Board of Selectmen reportedly in the meeting were Chairwoman Dianne Senechal, Vice Chairman Clifford Emery, Penny Booker and Harmon. Selectman Robert Libby was not present.

Keith Emery and Clifford Emery are cousins.

At the request of the American Journal, Senechal on Wednesday afternoon provided the newspaper a copy of the letter from the town to Keith Emery, dated Feb. 20, informing him that he was dismissed from his job. The letter listed what was called “incidents of insubordination.”

Gannon said Wednesday’s meeting was an opportunity for him and Emery, who requested a review, to present his side of those issues.

“They have 30 days to give us a decision,” Gannon said. “Then we’ll assess the next step.”

Emery was still listed on the town’s website on Wednesday as a member of the public works staff.

But this week, the town was advertising on the website for a public works laborer/equipment operator. Harmon said Tuesday the job posting would be open until Wednesday.

Long involved in town politics, Emery is chairman of the town’s Planning Board, an elected panel, and his term expires in 2015. Several years ago, Emery also was a candidate for the Board of Selectmen.

This week, the selectmen posted notice of an executive session – a meeting behind closed doors – to discuss a personnel matter at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, in Buxton Town Hall. Harmon declined on Tuesday to disclose any further information about the executive session.

When Emery and Gannon arrived for their Wednesday meeting, they went to the front entrance of Town Hall, but the doors were locked. So, they went around the building to enter.

As a member of the road crew, Keith Emery has served under three public works directors in the past eight years. He first served under an elected road commissioner and subsequently under appointed directors since the first one was appointed in 2005.

His former boss at public works, David Pinkham, whose departure as public works director followed turmoil in Town Hall last year, said Tuesday that Emery was “an excellent worker, very qualified,” and reliable.

Last year, trouble erupted in Buxton’s Public Works Department on an issue involving the disposal and sale of department junk and how money from those sales was spent for coffee, doughnuts and kitchen supplies for the highway crew. Pinkham said last year the money generated from scrap metal sales was used consistent with a long-standing tradition in the department.

Last year, Emery and Pinkham, who were both suspended from duty, each said they were issued summonses in connection with allegations surrounding use of the scrap metal money. But, the town dropped both complaints.

Following a 30-day suspension last year, Emery got his job back. After resigning, Pinkham reapplied for his job but was not rehired. The controversy led to Pinkham being replaced by Tom Kennie, the present public works director, who was promoted from foreman.

“(Emery) didn’t deserve to lose this job,” Pinkham said, “as I didn’t.”

In 2008, Emery, who was then vice chairman of the Planning Board, unsuccessfully ran for selectmen. Several years ago, Emery was on the Planning Board and had differences of opinions with selectmen concerning the location and an entrance for the new public works garage.

Emery’s 13 years of work does not count previous part-time service to the town.

“I was sorry to see him go,” Selectman Robert Libby said Tuesday. “He’s capable.”

Keith Emery