Select board accepts library director27s resignation, names interim director

The South Thomaston Select Board voted to accept the resignation of library/community center director Penny Alli effective Feb. 3 and appointed Beverly St. Clair as interim director.

The board opened the meeting by explaining that an emergency meeting held Feb. 3 had not received all notices required under "FOA" as recorded in the meeting transcript. To ensure proper public process the board revisited the matter on the regular agenda and then moved to accept Alli27s resignation. "I make a motion that we accept that resignation," a board member said; the motion was seconded and the board approved it.

After the acceptance, members discussed next steps for library leadership. The board said it will ask the library/community center advisory committee to present options and recommendations for how to proceed and to advise on whether one or two seats need replacement. The board moved and approved appointing Beverly St. Clair as interim library/community center director "until we work out the details over the next few select board meetings," a board member said.

The chair explained limits on further comment about the resignation because the town27s executive-session participants and the town clerk who were present during the personnel discussions are restricted from commenting on the circumstances beyond what is in the written resignation and the formal separation agreement. "We cannot comment beyond we've accepted her resignation," the chair stated, and reiterated that municipal personnel processes are generally handled privately under state law with only final outcomes released as public information.

What happens next: the advisory committee will develop replacement options for review at upcoming select board meetings; no additional personnel details were released at the session.