Goshen formally denies personnel 'wrongdoing'

GOSHEN — It's a safe bet that most of Goshen's approximately 900 residents have heard something about allegations the town has mishandled serious personnel issues.

The Goshen Town Council's response to those allegations, however, wasn't quite as well-traveled, said Councilman Steve Staheli.

"We were getting a lot of people worrying about what's going on," Staheli said.

The council hopes it changed that last week by issuing formal denials on two notices of claim — one filed on behalf of former public works director Craig Palmer and the other for suspended volunteer firefighters Jason Keddington and Richard Wolf.

The formal denial, read during Wednesday's Town Council meeting, states that Goshen "strongly disputes any wrongdoing" in both matters.

The Goshen Town Council wasn't legally required to make an official response, said town attorney Eric T. Johnson. A notice of claim is deemed denied if no action is taken within 60 days, Johnson explained.

"The council, however, felt that these were matters of sufficient importance that they merited their full consideration and attention, which they received," he said. "After reviewing them, they denied the claims."

The notices of claim, filed Nov. 4 by attorney T. McKay Stirland, contend that the town of Goshen — specifically Mayor Marvin L. Jacobson and Town Manager Bruce Sutton — wrongfully and improperly handled the termination of Palmer and the suspensions of Keddington and Wolf.

Goshen's denial of the claims opens a one-year window in which Stirland can file lawsuits on behalf of his clients.

Calls to Stirland for comment were not returned.

Sutton said the notices of claim were posted "all over town for the public to read" just prior to the Nov. 8 election, which saw Jacobson lose to challenger Dorothy Sprague.

"It seemed quite coincidental to me to have all those go up the day before the election," Staheli said. "(Jacobson and Sutton) were specifically mentioned by name on the front page of that claim. That probably didn't help (Jacobson) at all."

Palmer was terminated in December 2004 as a result of alleged complaints made to town officials about his job performance.