Harrison Cites Stress And Health Issues in Resignation
by Alex Brooks
Ray Harrison resigned from his position as Petersburgh Highway Superintendent effective March 5. His resignation letter said, “I regretfully and with mixed emotions would like to inform the Town of Petersburgh’s Board members and the entire community that due to my current and past health issues I am forced into the resignation of my position. He thanked Deputy Highway Superintendent Adam Beaudry “for all the extra work he has endured while I was in the hospital recovering from my heart attack and also the many extra hours he put in while I was home with my wife as she is recovering from knee replacement surgery.” He said, “I don’t know what I would have done without him and his professional support to keep everything operational.” Harrison recommended Beaudry as his successor, saying he has matured a great deal over the past year and “is highly capable of doing a great job as Highway Superintendent.”
Harrison concluded by saying, “I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve my community as highway superintendent.”
Harrison also dropped off to the Eastwick Press office two other letters addressed to “to whom it may concern.” One was a letter from his doctor, James Carroll, MD from Twin Rivers Medical, saying he advised Harrison to stop working because of “ongoing issues with stress related to his job.” The other was from the family of Ray Harrison, which more pointedly described the things that have been causing stress for Harrison. It cites his 30 years of dedication and hard work in this community, saying he has always had the best interests of the highway department at heart. It continues, “He has spent his entire life here building a positive reputation. Nevertheless, we have been informed about malicious, inaccurate and unfounded information that has damaged his personal and professional character. In addition to this, he has also been a victim of forms of bullying and harassment by a few board members regarding excessive monitoring, sabotaging and undermining work…He has been singled out for constant criticism with no concrete or positive guidance. This has caused a great deal of unnecessary stress and long-lasting health effects.”
The Petersburgh Town Board will make an appointment of someone to replace Harrison for the remainder of 2020, and then the position will be on the November ballot in the fall for someone to finish the remainder of Harrison’s term. The Town Board has asked that anyone interested in the position submit a resume and letter of interest to the Town Clerk before March 30. The Board expects to make an appointment at its April meeting.