The longtime executive director of the Damariscotta River Association and his administrative assistant are on leave.
Both Mark DesMeules and his assistant Caeli Shadis have not been at the DRA headquarters for at least two weeks.
DRA officials declined to comment on the situation.
DesMeules did not return calls seeking information.
“We can not say anything as it is a personnel situation,” said Peter Drum, a lawyer who sits on the DRA Board of Trustees.
Calls to DRA board president Dick Clime have not been returned.
Damariscotta town officials, who have been in negotiations with DesMeules in a business transaction say the DRA has declined to explain his absence.
For almost 10 years, DesMeules has been the very visible face of the 30-year-old highly successful land trust/community organization.
At last Saturday’s DRA Wabanaki Living Skills and Culture program, a special project of DesMeules, the longtime leader was not seen at the event.
DesMeules was the first executive director of the Land For Maine’s Future Program under the administration of former governor Angus King.
