Bloomfield may vote to oust town manager for second straight year
Bloomfield officials are meeting next week and may consider ending Town Manager Stanley Hawthorne's contract after just one year on the job.
Emily DiSalvo / Hearst Connecticut MediaBLOOMFIELD — The Town Council will hold an executive session and public meeting next week to discuss details of the town manager's contract, including a potential dismissal.
The public meeting will be held in-person at Town Hall and virtually at 6 p.m. Tuesday after town council members convene in private session on Monday to discuss Stanley Hawthorne's contract.
The discussion comes weeks after Hawthorne called "the inability of a few governing body members to accept last November's transition of power" his biggest challenge as town manager. Hawthorne has attempted to find employment elsewhere and was a finalist for a job in Florida, but was not selected for the position last month.
Hawthorne, whose contract with Bloomfield runs through Aug. 30, 2025, could not be reached for comment about next week's meetings.
An email obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group dated Wednesday shows Town Council member Francis Politis requesting a special meeting in executive session to discuss the "status" of the town manager's contract.
Hawthorne contacted council members asking for clarification about what sections of the contract would be addressed in executive session, according to another email obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media.
Depending on the provisions to be discussed, Hawthorne asked for the meeting to be open to the public and for the opportunity to have his own legal counsel present, the email stated. He also highlighted in the email his concerns about termination efforts being "retaliatory."
Politis declined to comment about what prompted the meetings about Hawthorne's contract. Politis said he had not spoken to Hawthorne about the matter and all of his conversations about the town manager's contract had been with council members.
He said members of the public should come to Tuesday's meeting with an open mind.
"Don't just listen to the people who you typically listen to," Politis said. "Listen to all sides of the story before you make a decision about what is what and what isn't what."
Politis declined to comment when asked if he would vote to dismiss Hawthorne.
"We want to be able to leave everything open based on what happens during the course of that conversation," Politis said.
Council member Joe Merritt said he would not vote to dismiss Hawthorne and considers himself a "staunch supporter" of the town manager. While he said the town manager is not perfect, he said he is working hard.
Merritt cited the Oct. 11 meeting and Hawthorne's frustrations with certain council members as the reason his dismissal is being considered. He said he knows of five possible council members who may vote against Hawthorne.
"Council members who were blamed for causing problems were insulted apparently and set out to fire the town manager," Merritt said. "That's the reason they want to have a meeting. To justify the firing. And I am not sure if that will work out."
Council member Kenneth McClary said he would not vote to dismiss Hawthorne and called any move to oust the town manager "irresponsible."
"I am appalled at the behind-the-scenes back-stabbing and rumor-mongering that a few councilors are using to undercut our town manager," McClary said. "They have no valid reasons for this maneuvering other than a naked power grab."
If removed by a majority vote, Hawthorne will be the second town manager in two years ousted after a year on the job. Former town manager Robert Smith, who now works in the private sector, declined to comment on the matter when reached this week.
Smith's early exit cost the town $80,000, and Merritt warned that Hawthorne's dismissal would also be costly. Hawthorne's contract states if he is terminated early, the town will pay severance "equal to six months salary at the then current rate of pay."
"He's working very hard; we gave him great grades," Merritt said. "Why would you turn around a few weeks later and try to fire him?"
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