After being in office only 10 weeks, the Select Board of Limestone unanimously voted that the new town manager, Matthew Pineo, be removed from his post.

A special meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 13th to address any and all concerns that Limestone area residents might have concerning the removal of Pineo as town manager and to seek their input on how to move forward with his replacement.

The Bangor Daily News reported that the board members stated in a press release, dated December 8th, that they wish to convey to the citizens that the entire board acted within their capacity and felt that it was in the best interests of the Town of Limestone to relieve Matthew Pineo of his duties as town manager, effective December 6, 2017.

There had been no contract established between the town of Limestone and the town manager at the time of his removal, therefore there was no contractual obligation to keep him.

Part of the reason for his removal was that he implemented changes that the Select Board disagreed with.

This included reconfiguring offices within Limestone's municipal building, appointing two deputy treasurers and altering the Select Board meetings so that Town Clerk Vicki Page sat at a separate desk taking the meeting minutes while Pineo sat among the board.

At the December 6th meeting, there were many residents who came to the defense of Pineo and stated they liked the fact that he wanted to bring more businesses to the Limestone area and starting the process of great economic development as well.

Many residents and business owners in the community are hoping for more hiring transparency from the Select Board.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Julie Weston, owner of Manaus Books and Coffee Shop on Maine Street accused the board members of making hiring decisions behind closed doors during executive sessions, which Board Chairman Steve Beaulieu denied at the December 6th meeting.

 

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