Steve Lewis is now officially the former station manager of Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District. The directors voted 5-0 June 12 to terminate Lewis on June 20. Chairman Jody Lewis said the date was determined based on the district's bylaws regarding personnel decisions. "The directors will inform (Steve) Lewis by mail of the board's decision," Jody Lewis said.

The former station manager and the chairman are not related. The directors made no comment on the ongoing FBI investigation which began March 26 or why Steve Lewis was first placed on unpaid administrative leave and later terminated. Boothbay directors Jody Lewis and Chuck Cunningham, Boothbay Harbor directors J.D. Warren and Julia Latter and Edgecomb director Curt Crosby voted to terminate him. Southport director Amy Harkins was not present.

The Boothbay Register contacted Steve Lewis Thursday night informing him of the decision. "I have no comment, but I may tomorrow," he sent in a text.

On March 26, the directors held a special emergency meeting at Latter's request to discuss alleged theft and financial improprieties at the district. The meeting was held in open session with no public notice or attempts to contact the local media.

On March 27, the Boothbay Register contacted Jody Lewis about the special emergency meeting. He confirmed directors held a special meeting to discuss a personnel issue. "It was a short meeting and we voted to place the manager on unpaid leave," he said.

The Boothbay Register asked him why the media wasn't notified about the special meeting. "We didn't have to. Our bylaws allow us to call a special meeting without notice to discuss a personnel issue," he said. On June 12, the directors declined to state what provision was used, not to notify the media about their special meeting. Directors would only direct the reporter to their bylaws or contact their lawyer.

Following the June 12 meeting, Cunningham called the Boothbay Register with the directors' approval. Cunningham provided the Boothbay Register with their lawyer's previous advice. "We held the special emergency meeting after discussing it with our lawyer. Linda Yarmosh is not a municipal lawyer, so she consulted with a municipal lawyer who advised it was legal for us to hold such a meeting."  

On June 13, Yarmosh explained the directors' rationale in holding the special emergency meeting. She referred to the district's bylaws which allow calling a special emergency meeting and Maine's Right to Know Law which requires notification by whatever means "practical."  She said, "That is what they are relying on."

The Boothbay Register asked why couldn't the directors make one more contact (media) as required by law. "These are dedicated volunteers, and this all happened very quickly. There was no time."

Yarmosh was asked if the directors followed the "letter of the law." She said, "These folks are doing the best they can with an unusual set of circumstances."