Waldoboro Interim Town Manager Eileen Dondlinger apologized and accepted responsibility for a closed-door meeting – in violation of state law – during which the town budget was discussed.
The executive session was held prior to a Waldoboro Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee meeting on March 15, with no prior announcement or explanation.
During the meeting, Dondlinger and board discussed possible staff cuts that could be made this year, Dondlinger and board members said. The selectmen had previously requested that Dondlinger explore possibilities for reductions in staff.
“I wanted to give the board a chance to hear the options before we went public with them,” Dondlinger said. The potential staff cuts were presented in open session following the closed-door meeting. “This seemed easier than calling each one individually.”
State law allows towns to hold meetings related to individual personnel matters in executive session, but budget matters must be discussed in open session.
After the meeting, when Dondlinger was made aware of this fact, she apologized and said the illegal meeting was held at her request and because she was unaware of the law.
Dondlinger is the Waldoboro Finance Director and is serving as interim town manager until a new town manager can be found.
“I make mistakes sometimes, but I tend not to make the same mistake twice,” Dondlinger said.
