Rockland Select Board releases harassment investigation findings, continues Banner liquor license review
Independent investigation finds former official Charles Heshion violated town's discriminatory harassment policy; The Banner remains closed pending July meeting
ROCKLAND - June 17 - The Rockland Select Board unanimously voted June 17 to release the findings of an independent investigation that determined former official Charles Heshion violated the town's discriminatory harassment policy in his treatment of several female employees.
The board also continued its review of The Banner's suspended liquor license, with the Union Street establishment agreeing to remain closed until the board's July 8 meeting.
Attorney John Clifford, representing the town, presented the executive summary of the investigation to the board during last Tuesday's meeting. The full investigation report remains confidential as a personnel record, but the summary will be published in the town's next annual report as required by state law. The Executive Summary is available here.
"Without hesitation, I will say that they're right, and I would include myself in accepting responsibility for tolerating what became a pattern of pervasive misconduct or mistreatment of Town employees," Clifford said, referring to complaints from female employees who felt the investigation could have gone further.
The investigation was initiated in late 2024 following complaints from several individuals. Link to previous South Shore News article. An independent firm conducted the review since Clifford's office had previously investigated Heshion in 2022.
"Over the course of time, I think many of us adopted the view that nothing could be done if the offending individual was an elected official," Clifford said. "While there are certainly limitations on actions that can be taken against elected officials that are engaged in misconduct, there are steps that can be taken."
Select Board member Michael O'Loughlin emphasized the importance of releasing the findings despite Heshion no longer serving as a town official.
"The women that came forward in this investigation deserve to have those results made public," O'Loughlin said. "We took a vote to do the investigation, and the investigation's findings were very damning."
Select Board member Steven O'Donnell, who recently joined the board, stressed the importance of protecting town employees from retaliation.
"No employee in this Town should ever feel the fear of retribution for coming forward if they feel they're being mistreated," O'Donnell said. "That's something that I take very seriously."
The board members noted that the new town charter provides better mechanisms for addressing such issues through Human Resources and the Town Administrator, rather than relying solely on the Select Board's limited authority over elected officials.
Town Administrator Doug Lapp announced that HR Director Lori Taylor will work on updating personnel policies and the board and committee handbook to establish clearer guidelines and expectations for elected officials.
Regarding The Banner at 167 Union Street, the board continued its review of the establishment's 90-day liquor license suspension that began in April. The suspension was originally set to end July 1, but owner William T. Barry has agreed through his attorney to remain closed until the board's July 8 meeting.
Clifford reported that while some progress has been made on safety issues, including installation of a working fire alarm system, significant concerns remain. A walkthrough conducted last Thursday revealed ongoing problems.
"There was a tangible effort being made, which was not the case back in April," Clifford said. "There was no visible effort that things, work was actually being done."
However, Select Board Vice Chair Lori Childs expressed frustration with the pace of improvements, noting electrical hazards she observed during the walkthrough.
"My issue with Mr. Barry, with as much as I've dealt with him since the suspension, is that he says he's going to take care of things, and they just don't happen," Childs said. She described finding exposed wires held to the building with insulation foam, calling it a fire hazard.
The establishment also owes approximately $28,000 in fines and faces licensing issues with the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
O'Loughlin noted the board's responsibility is primarily focused on liquor license requirements, including liability insurance and approved alcohol vendors, while other departments handle building safety inspections.
"I think every single one of us wants to see The Banner open and be successful again," O'Loughlin said. "But it's important for us to remember that it's up to the inspectors and the health agent to make the ultimate decision as far as being able to open the business for publicly."
The board will have the option on July 8 to allow The Banner to reopen, impose additional conditions, or extend the suspension further.
The board also addressed several other items during Tuesday's meeting:
• Approved awning permits for KMR Beauty and Mayflower Tax Service on Union Street, both part of the town's sign improvement grant program
• Announced that town offices will be closed Thursday for the Juneteenth holiday and listed summer Friday closures
• Received an update on numerous board and committee vacancies, including positions on the ADA Committee, Capital Planning Committee, Conservation Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals
• Celebrated the success of Rockland Day, thanking the organizing committee, town departments, volunteers, and over 100 vendors who participated
Lapp announced the town received an additional $150,000 in Plymouth County ARPA funding to help finance generator installation projects for the water and sewer departments. The town had previously spent its full $3.2 million federal allocation and successfully applied for additional funds from other communities that didn't use their complete allocations.