WampaGate

Chair, member resign from CC Commission Search Committee

Search Committee Chairman Jones and Susan Kadar resign
Sandwich, Truro members say they were denied information

By Peter Kenney 

Resignation letter charges "It is unfortunate that the process mid-way was abandoned. The search committee, or more accurately, the two Cape Cod Commission members were cut from receiving any information during the 'second round.'"At the regular meeting of the Barnstable County commissioners this morning Cape Cod commission chairman Robert Jones of Sandwich and commission member Susan Kadar of Truro resigned from the selection committee named by the commissioners to select a successor to Cape Cod commission executive director Marg Fenn.

Controversy has been swirling around both Barnstable Town Hall and Barnstable County's offices over the apparent decision to hire Paul Niedzwiecki for he position. Niedzwiecki has been assistant town manager in Barnstable for three and a half years. He told Town Manager John Klimm on Wednesday,  August 8, that he had applied for another job and would be leaving the town's employ. Since the following Friday Niedzwiecki has been on paid vacation and has been unavailable for comment.

Jones delivered his resignation verbally as did Ms. Kadar resignation, however, she also submitted a letter of resignation, copied here:
________________________________
TO: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
From Susan Kadar
Date: August 22, 2007

Dear Mary, Bill and Lance:

Does the end justify the means? A question that has often been debaterd with mixed results.

I do not believe it does. With this note I formally remove my name from the search
committee, and express my deep disappointment with the handling of the search.
A process established and followed is a valuable tool, it allows all to know expectations; it
sets parameters, makes for "transparency."

It is unfortunate that the process mid-way was abandoned. The search committee, or more accurately, the two Cape Cod Commission members were cut from receiving any information during the "second round."

My repeated inquiries regarding applications received, meetings scheduled went un-answered. The first communique received was an e-mail, with the notice that on August 30th Paul Niedzwiecki would be interviewd.

Then, newspaper articles suggesting that indeed, we are facing a "done deal." This bit of news was then confirmed via a telephone call from the County Administrator on August 16th.

To say that this was disturbing news is a true understatement.

My concerns are more for CC Commission Staff, and for Paul.

That Commission Staff should learn from newspapers who the next executive director will be is unconscionable. As for Paul, who is certainly not at fault here, you have made his entry more difficult.

That you have, for all practical purposes hired someone, seemingly based on a unilateral
decision is grossly unfair to all concerned. If it is not a unilateral decision, but one discused by you, then clearly the Open Meeting Law has been violated by the Executive Branch of County Government. Not a pretty picture, either way.

                                                       Sincerely and Disappointedly:
                                                                     Susan

(Susan Kadar represented the Town of Truro on the Cape Cod commission for several years and then stepped down. In July of this year she was appointed to fill the remaining one year of a term not yet expired.)

Read Peter Kenney columns which lead to this fall-out;

• First there were 42, then 50, soon 1
• Why Does Anything Involving Barnstable County Government Have to be Messy?
• Barnstable needs a new Town Manager