Under pressure to resign, embattled selectman makes it official

Selectmen Chair Andy Rawson reads former selectman Mike Beaulieu's letter of resignation as fellow Selectman Ryan Thibeault looks on. (Rochester Voice photo)

MILTON - Under pressure to resign following his remarks regarding an employees' job performance in open meeting, Milton Selectman Mike Beaulieu elected to save the town the expense and money to remove him by legal means and tendered his resignation on Thursday.

Selectmen accepted his resignation on Friday afternoon during a brief meeting at Town Hall.

Selectmen Chair Andy Rawson, a longtime friend of Beaulieu's, took the opportunity to thank Beaulieu for his service to the town during his four and a half years as selectman.

Mike Beaulieu (Rochester Voice file photo)

Beaulieu's letter of resignation, read aloud by Rawson, said, "After much thought and talking with my family I have come to a decision that did not come easily. It is not my intent to put my family or the Town of Milton through any actions that would cause hurt. I love my family and my town so effectively today I have resigned from my seat as Board of Selectman."

Rawson and fellow selectman Ryan Thibeault had decided on Tuesday to move forward with removing the embattled Beaulieu from the board legally after he ignored their demands for his resignation by Monday.

The move to oust Beaulieu began after a Nov. 2 workshop during which he said he wanted to change his vote on the town administrator budget from "yea" to "nay" because he was "not comfortable paying $70,000 a year to someone who hasn't really put in a full week's work since she started."

Selectmen's comments that can injure the reputation of town employees and/or private citizens are mandated to be only taken up in executive session per state statute.

Town Administrator Heather Thibodeau told The Rochester Voice she had no inkling that such a condemnation was coming from Beaulieu, and that she was surprised, shocked and saddened by his comments.

Earlier this year Beaulieu stepped down as board chairman after he was accused of making comments regarding sensitive town information that were not authorized to be released in public session.

Soon after he agreed to step down as chair and was replaced by Rawson.