Former Damariscotta Police Chief Steve Drake will receive a severance package consisting of over four months’ salary and partial benefits.
The package is worth about $23,000, Damariscotta Town Manager Greg Zinser said.
The town will draw the funds from the 2010-2011 police department payroll and from a “payroll liabilities” line item, Zinser said.
Drake resigned May 31 following a nearly eight-week period of paid administrative leave. Zinser placed Drake on leave following the latter’s involvement in a tense exchange regarding the Damariscotta Police Dept. budget at an April 6 meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
A six-page separation and release agreement signed by Drake and Zinser includes a “non-disparagement clause” that precludes Zinser, the selectmen and other “management personnel” from making “disparaging, uncomplimentary or negative remarks” about Drake. Likewise, the clause bars Drake from disparaging town employees and the selectmen.
The agreement also includes a “general release of claims” clause protecting the parties from various legal actions.
The selectmen did not and “don’t have to” formally accept Drake’s resignation or vote on his severance package, Zinser said.
“We did talk about [the severance package] in executive session and [the selectmen] are in concurrence with it,” Zinser said.
