Ashland administrator hired for permanent Milton slot

Heather Thibodeau (Courtesy photo)

MILTON - After more than a month of controversy and finger pointing between selectmen and right to know activists, Milton has hired a new permanent town administrator.

Heather Thibodeau, 47, currently the town administrator of Ashland, was hired on Tuesday and will begin her new duties in Milton in August.

Thibodeau, of Newmarket, was hired from a large pool of candidates, with the two most controversial applicants being former interim town administrator Jeremy Bourgeois, who was fired May 18 during an emergency selectmen's meeting; and Selectmen Chairman Tom Gray.

The abrupt firing of Bourgeois and the pursuit by Gray for the permanent position roiled this usually quaint and quiet lakeside town for almost five weeks. Chief among many of the concerns from residents was that Gray was even being considered for the job and that selectmen's posting of meetings and minutes during this time often left much to be desired.

Bourgeois, in an exclusive interview with The Lebanon Voice soon after his firing, said Selectmen Mike Beaulieu and Andrew Rawson sought to "sweep" Gray into the position, which drew concern from department heads who helped to create the search committee.

The search committee comprised Town Clerk Michelle Beauchamp, Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss, Nute High/Middle School Principal Scott Currier and budget committee member Maureen Steer.

Bourgeois further told The Lebanon Voice he never made the statement that one of the members of the search committee alluded to in a nonpublic session held by selectmen and the search committee on May 16. When those nonpublic minutes were inadvertently sent to Bourgeois, he emailed selectmen Beaulieu and Rawson and the member of the search committee who had repeated the alleged statement, which basically said Bourgeois told a candidate, "Don't bother applying for the TA position, because it's mine."

Bourgeois said in the email he told them he was appalled that the untrue statement had been repeated - and being a professional - of course he would never say something like that. He also said it would be foolish of him to say that because the individual in question had already applied.

None of those sent the email replied, said Bourgeois, who added selectmen refused to talk with him during subsequent meetings.

Soon afterward he said Beaulieu came into his office and told him he could either "cut the bullshit or pack (your) shit and leave."

"I said I would stop sending emails but won't stop seeking legal advice," Bourgeois said. "When he (Beaulieu) left the office, I stepped out to meet with my attorney. On the way back to the office Mike called me and asked if I was coming back. I replied yes and he said he needed to see me. Once I got in he came into my office and stated him and Andy had an emergency meeting and that I was terminated."

In another heavily criticized move, selectmen released minutes of the nonpublic meeting in which they excoriated Bourgeois for unprofessionalism and noted reasons for his abrupt termination.

In part, the nonpublic meeting minutes read, referring to Bourgeois, "His reckless disregard for the Town's policy and procedure of nonpublic sensitive material, documents and the indication that his effectiveness to handle the responsibilities of the position were undermined clearly indicated his continued employment as the temporary/interim town administrator was not in the Town's best interest."

Bourgeois, himself, meanwhile, told The Lebanon Voice that both he and Gray were likely two of the lesser qualified applicants.

Bourgeois had taken over in the spring for former permanent town administrator Liz Dionne.