Selectmen approve five-day unpaid suspension and last-chance agreement for town employee

The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on Nov. 3 to impose a five-day unpaid suspension on town employee Mike McCargo, effective Nov. 4, and to require a last-chance agreement. The board said it had noted a pattern of conduct and "gross violations" of the town’s personnel and ethics expectations during a personnel matter presented in open session.

Officials told McCargo the suspension and the agreement were intended to emphasize the expectation that town employees conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with the employee handbook and the town ethics code. Selectmen said they wanted McCargo to succeed but that the town must apply personnel and ethics rules consistently.

During the discussion board members urged the employee to seek guidance if he is uncertain about expected workplace behavior and to exercise ‘‘extreme caution and professionalism’’ going forward. Human Resources and the relevant department were directed to deliver the last-chance agreement to the employee and to monitor compliance.