Ogunquit’s embattled town manager won’t have his day in court until March, but he will probably know if he still has a job later this month.

Tom Fortier, who lives in Falmouth, has been on paid administrative leave since he was charged with misdemeanor theft in August. He allegedly directed a crew of seasonal workers on July 4 to collect unauthorized after-hours beach parking fees that never made it to town coffers.

The case has lingered in York District Court, where another hearing was postponed Tuesday, and in a town review that has included the hiring of outside counsel to review the incident. But on Tuesday night, the Select Board released a written statement that said it will probably vote on Fortier’s fate this month.

“The Select Board is not allowed to disclose such discussion to the public,” the statement read. “However, we are able to report that significant progress has been made in Mr. Fortier’s personnel matter, and we anticipate taking a public vote at our next meeting.”

The date of that meeting has not yet been set, but Chairwoman Barbara Dailey said it will be held this month.

The board accepted the voluntary resignation of one of Fortier’s hires, Public Works Director Cliff Marchant, before Dailey read the statement. Marchant, who oversaw the department when it came under fire for reportedly using rat poison on a public beach, has also been on paid administrative leave.

He will be paid through March 12, Dailey said.

The town has not said why Marchant was on leave. The terms of his resignation were not available Tuesday night, but Dailey said a copy of the signed agreement will be available Wednesday morning.

Residents who attended a Select Board meeting Tuesday night wanted answers, asking if Marchant had named who was responsible for giving the order to use the rat poison and wanting to know how much longer Fortier could remain on paid leave. Board members said they couldn’t talk about confidential personnel matters.

 

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