ROCKLAND, Maine — The city’s longtime harbor master has been put on paid leave while a transfer station worker who has been with the city since 1963 also has been put on leave by the city manager.
Harbor Master Ed Glaser said he was placed on leave on Monday by City Manager James Chaousis. Glaser said he was told he would be on leave until June 22.
Glaser referred all other questions to the city manager.
Glaser clashed with city councilors at a May 27 budget meeting when he was asked to come up with $30,000 in added revenues or cuts. Glaser warned that higher fees could discourage people from coming to Rockland. He also said he did not know where cuts could be made.
“I’d rather have a welcome mat in the harbor than a toll booth,” Glaser said at the May 27 meeting.
He said he would have to double mooring fees to generate $30,000 in added revenues.
Councilors disagreed, however, and said cuts would come unless he came up with the added revenues. Councilors also said that higher fees would not cause boaters to flee the harbor.
“I know you don’t consider the harbor as a revenue maker, but I can tell you from talking with other councilors, we consider it is,” Councilor Louise MacLellan-Ruf said.
Glaser has been harbor master in Rockland since February 2004. He had served previously as a schooner captain.
Veteran city employee Raymond Athearn said he was put on paid leave three to four weeks ago by the manager. Athearn said he was not given a reason for the action.
“I’d like to get back to work,” Athearn said.
Athearn was hired in the fall of 1963. The Rockland City Council honored Athearn in April 2014 for more than 50 years of service. Athearn said he has done it all in working for the city: driving trucks, plowing and sanding roads, digging ditches and picking up trash. He works as the attendant at the city’s transfer station.
Chaousis said Wednesday evening that he won’t comment on personnel situations.
Chaousis was hired by the council and began work as city manager in March.