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Dewey must come to grips with Appelbaum

July 27, 2017

The Dewey town commissioners have bungled any attempt at a fair and impartial investigation of the multiple complaints against Town Manager Marc Appelbaum by employees, former Mayor Rick Solloway, a property owner and town business executive.

Astoundingly, the council failed to take any action for the first two weeks, leaving Appelbaum in place with full access to the employees, town financial records and sensitive employee information. Despite multiple calls for Appelbaum's immediate suspension with pay and a full impartial investigation, the council stonewalled and did nothing, then announced Appelbaum would remain in place working in the building, but key employees would report to Appelbaum's friend and assistant town manager.

Obviously, that did not protect the employees who had the courage to come forward from being subjected to ongoing intimidation by Appelbaum in crowded quarters. Then the commissioners violated Freedom of Information Act requirements by deciding to hire attorney Max Walton to conduct the investigation, an attorney who was previously hired by Appelbaum several years ago and with whom Appelbaum has a pre-existing relationship. Then after the fact, a couple weeks later, the council announced they would put the item up for a public vote, but added further insult to the integrity of the process by refusing to allow any public comment.

They have stalled, stonewalled, muzzled the public and compromised the investigation while allowing Appelbaum to continue to have full access to all town information and broad physical access to those same employees.

Since the complaints to date include allegations of financial mismanagement in addition to sexual harassment, racial remarks and possible civil rights violations, it is astoundingly irresponsible that the council has left Appelbaum in a position to doctor financial records, create false information or emails and jeopardize any possible integrity in the investigation. The investigation is already compromised beyond repair.

It is time for the council to suspend Appelbaum with pay, block his access to Town Hall and to town servers and electronic files, and have the legal process move forward. It is the only chance for justice to be done. Appelbaum will continue to be paid so he is not harmed, and the employees can do their jobs without fear of ongoing intimidation and harassment. Only in this manner can the employees, property owners and the public have some comfort that their town commissioners are not also compromised by a continuing thumb on the scales of justice.

Joan Claybrook Esq.
former property owner in Dewey Beach

 

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