Opinion ID: 2642350
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Transition to NMDC

Text: On January 14, 2010, the two CLEOs of the LWIB signed an agreement designating NMDC as the fiscal agent effective February 15; the agreement included a subagreement that NMDC would [s]erve as staff to the Local Area 1 Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) and perform duties assigned by the CLEOs and [the] LWIB. This was intended to remedy the compliance issues found by the federal monitors,3 and the CLEOs informed the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor of the impending transition the next day, January 15. In signing this agreement for the LWIB, the LWIB CLEOs knew that NMDC would provide staffing for the LWIB and had planned to advertise and seek applications for a new Director of Workforce Development, whose job would encompass the functions of the LWIB Executive Director. On January 15, a day after the agreement between NMDC and the LWIB was signed and two weeks after Winslow had sent the Opportunity email, the LWIB held a board meeting, during which Winslow served as secretary and, in her capacity as Executive 3 After working with both the federal monitors and Maine Department of Labor officials to ensure that the new organizational structure was in compliance with the WIA, NMDC entered into a final management and services agreement with the CLEOs on April 15, 2010. -10- Director, gave a presentation on the federal monitoring visit and passed out copies of the WIA. At Beaulieu's request, at this meeting Winslow provided all of the LWIB Board members with copies of the exit interview notes. (Some members had received them earlier.) As to what Winslow said during her presentation, Clark interrupted her at several points to loudly voice disagreement with what she was saying, and called her disgusting during the meeting. Clark stated that he had read the entire WIA law and that Winslow had not presented some of the relevant parts. On January 25, Winslow was formally informed that NMDC intended to advertise for a new Executive Director after it became the fiscal agent for the LWIB. At least by this point, if not before, Winslow knew that the new fiscal agent would not necessarily employ her. As said, she met with Clark unannounced on December 30 and received no assurance she would be rehired. She sent her Opportunity email on December 31. In January, NMDC posted a job listing for a position it termed Director of Workforce Development; in addition to several other responsibilities, this Director would also serve as the Executive Director of the LWIB. While the Director of Workforce Development position had the responsibilities of the LWIB Executive Director, the two positions were not identical. In addition to LWIB Executive Director responsibilities, the Director of Workforce development would provide professional management and -11- administrative services at the board level in directing fiscal planning, budgeting, contract development, and assessment of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs in Local Area 1. The listing stated that [i]nterested applicants should possess a Masters Degree in public administration, or related field, or a combination of a Bachelors Degree and related experience in economic development, workforce development, and public administration. The application deadline was February 10. On February 4, Beaulieu, on behalf of Aroostook, informed Winslow via email that: Because the County of Aroostook will no longer be involved with the administration of this program, at the February 3, 2010 County Commissioners' Meeting, the Aroostook Board of County Commissioners approved the termination of your employment as Executive Director of Workforce Investment Act Program for Local Area 1 effective February 12, 2010. NMDC's assumption of responsibilities as the fiscal agent was to become effective on February 15. Winslow applied for NMDC's Director of Workforce Development position. She was interviewed, although she did not have a Master's Degree in this field. On February 17, Clark and Ruby Bradbury of NMDC interviewed Winslow and three other applicants for the new job: Patricia Boucher (the LWIB's Executive Director for five years before Winslow's tenure), Arthur Faucher, and Ryan Pelletier. Interview notes indicate that have to was written next to Faucher's and Winslow's names, and interview but no was written -12- next to Boucher's name. Ultimately, NMDC hired Pelletier, who was also an NMDC board member. NMDC's stated reasons for hiring Pelletier were that he (1) had a Master's Degree in Public Administration; (2) had eleven years of management experience in local government; (3) served in other positions on various state and local boards and committees; (4) had business contacts in the area; and (5) possessed an understanding of the WIA mission. Winslow was notified by a letter dated February 22, 2010 that she did not get the job. She filed this MWPA action on May 26, 2010, originally suing both Aroostook County and NMDC for violating the whistleblower law. The district court granted NMDC's motion for summary judgment on February 15, 2013.4 Winslow timely appealed; she has apparently resolved her dispute with Aroostook and only her whistleblower claims against NMDC remain.