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96 South Main Street, PO Box 77, Nephi, Utah 84648 - Voice: 435 623-0525 - FAX: 435 623-4735 On our front page this week August 31, 2022 |
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By Rebecca Dopp Tensions were brewing throughout the Levan Town meeting held on Thursday, August 18, which culminated in a joint resignation and walk out of the entire office staff of the town which included Heather Poulsen, clerk; Stephanie Wood, treasurer; and Jessica Shepherd, deputy treasurer. Council member Taryn Brooks would later resign a few days later. Previously to the walk out, an agenda item about a raise for the utility supervisor was brought up. Mayor Bruce Rowley said that during the budget meeting back in June, they had decided to promote a town employee to the title of utility supervisor, and the town had discussed the pay raise, but that there were now some mixed feelings on how that promotion came about and how it should be handled. He said that he thought the council had agreed on giving the employee the high end of the pay scale, with COLA (cost of living adjustment) added, and leave the on-call separate, just the way it had been, and had discussed it in the budget meeting. Council member Amy Lowe said she had also gone back to the recordings of that meeting and agreed with Rowley. She went on to say that the office staff had a difficult job and it wasn’t easy dealing with not only the work of the town, but also with the council members who sometimes disagreed with the staff. “It’s okay to have differences,” she said. “Sometimes we get heated and maybe I was sassy at the time and I’ve already apologized to Stephanie. She deserves it, we’re human, it’s okay to disagree, but it’s not okay to ever put anyone down.” A comment was made by someone in the audience that Lowe herself had done that exact thing to Wood. She said that Lowe had shamed some of the comments Wood had made earlier in the meeting. Lowe said that in going over the past recordings it was difficult to hear who was saying what and there was some confusion, but to her understanding, the decision had been made. “My remembrance is that everybody, including Stephanie, Jessica and Travis, everyone who is paid, got COLA, including Jason [Worwood, town employee],” she said. Shepherd said that the council already planned the budget and if the council changed it now, would rates need to be increased again. Lowe said that the exact pay raise was never confirmed in that past meeting. Shepherd and council member Chris Webb disagreed, saying that yes it had been and it was clear what the intention was. Lowe felt that it was not clear. Lowe said that she and Wood had not seen eye to eye on things, and would probably not see eye to eye, but that she had apologized for any hurt feelings. Cassie Richmond said if they were talking about raises, she wondered where hers was. Richmond is the animal control officer, a contracted job, which has a set pay rate. Rowley said that he had been a contracted worker on the ambulance for years and never received a raise. He said he would love to talk with Richmond at another time, but that he didn’t want to get into it that night. Poulsen said she had gone back to the recording of the meeting and said that there was a specific pay raise that was discussed and was agreed upon and was put in the budget. She said that the minutes of that meeting were passed. The council accepted the entire budget. “I’m not here to argue with you, I’m just here to state the facts, but I went back and listened so I could knowledgeably answer your questions,” she said. Lowe said that the council did close that meeting, but they did have the right to reopen the discussion if there were some misunderstandings and disagreements. Webb said that the bigger issue was how it was handled and disagreed upon. He said that in a text thread, Wood had been called a liar and was disrespected. He said that it has been a nightmare for the staff to be treated with mistrust. He said that the proof was on that text thread. Lowe denied ever calling Wood a liar. The discussion devolved into people speaking over each other. Webb then said that he only had the public meeting to discuss these issues and that town business should not be discussed over a text thread or email. He said everyone was at their wits end, him including, on the way things were happening. “I’m frustrated because I don’t know where I can do that other than here,” he said. Lowe said that they were still learning, everyone was trying to get their view in, and they were fighting for what they believed in. Wood then said that she would turn in her keys and officially tender her resignation. She said that she would not accept Lowe’s apology, and she would not be treated with disrespect. “The reason I’ve been here for 19 years is because I love this town,” she said. “It hasn’t been until you two [Lowe and Rowley] have started squabbling amongst yourselves and causing contention in the office, every time we turn around. I’m done.” Poulsen then tendered her resignation stating that she has the knowledge, she has the education, and she was doing a dang good job. She said that she had been treated with disrespect, she had been accused of things, and they [Rowley and Lowe] had been rude. “I taught my children not to put up with bullies, and I will not as well,” Poulsen said. Shepherd also resigned on the spot. All three ladies walked out of the meeting. A person in the audience then said that Lowe should resign as well for being disrespectful and accused Lowe of letting her husband go through information on the town computer which Lowe vehemently denied. Rowley then said that the meeting needed to come to a close. The question of what the town would do now to replace the staff who quit came up. After Poulsen, Wood and Shepherd left the meeting, the argument continued with people in the audience and members of the council yelling at each other, accusing each other of not listening, blaming each other for misunderstandings and not doing what was best for the town. Council member Ray Evans stood up for Rowley, and said that Rowley and Wood had clashed over the years, but in the end they all needed to work together to do what was in the best interest of the town. “We’ll move forward,” said Rowley. Evans said that many people had felt they’d been treated disrespectfully. Lowe said that she was sorry if mistakes had been made, on her part, and sincerely meant the apology she had given to Wood. She said that it was the office staff’s choice to leave. C. Webb said that's concern was that the town had just lost some of the best staff the town had ever had. Rowley said he had tried to find a way to resolve these issues, but had not had much success. He said he had been accused of being sexist. Brooks said she had told Rowley that he had made remarks in the past that could be viewed as being sexist including referring to the office staff as “those girls.” Chad Poulsen pointed out several instances where the town could be held liable and potentially sued. Rowley accused Poulsen’s wife Heather of trying to run the town and do whatever she and the staff wanted to do. He then abruptly adjourned the meeting. On August 22, Brooks posted a letter on the town’s community Facebook page. It reads: “To the Town Mayor, It is with a heavy heart and after much prayer and advice from my doctors that I submit my resignation from the Levan Town Council, effective immediately, due to personal health reasons related to pregnancy. I have greatly enjoyed being able to serve the citizens of Levan for the past 2 years and 8 months as a member of the council and for many years before that as the Activities Committee Chair. I am especially saddened to not be able to finish some of the projects I have started, most particularly in securing private donations and grants to complete park improvements, specifically for the baseball field renovations, the addition of a soccer field, basketball courts, and tennis courts. I feel strongly that we need to take care of the things we have and honor the heritage we have been blessed with here in Levan. My desire for the town is that we will be able to unite in a way that brings out the best in one another. I have always loved the way members of our community have cared for each other and I hope and pray that we will be able to do that once again. I pray that feelings of animosity and disrespect will subside and be replaced with respect and selflessness. These are values that we need in our leaders, both here at home, in our state, and our country. As citizens of our town, I encourage all to become aware of the issues our town is facing, attend council meetings, pray for our leaders and neighbors, and volunteer to serve in our community. I wish the very best and God’s blessings to the individual who will act as my replacement, and those who have dedicated so much of their time and talents to our town as previous, current and future employees, council members, and planning commission members. Sincerely, Taryn Brooks”
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