HOULTON, Maine — Houlton’s director of public works, who also managed the Houlton International Airport and the town’s park maintenance, has resigned after 11 years on the job.
Chris Stewart announced during Monday night’s Town Council meeting that his last day will be Nov. 18.
Stewart’s resignation is the latest in a slew of recent municipal resignations, including two police officers and five councilors, in the wake of the town manager being placed on administrative leave following his Sept. 25 arrest. The continuing unrest has affected employee morale and left residents confused about the town’s next steps.
It was clear on Monday night that existing councilors, community members and other department heads supported all the work Stewart has done for the town during his tenure.
Stewart spearheaded a long list of projects including maintaining the town roads even when funds were limited, keeping costly vehicles running long past their prime and preparing bids for new equipment when necessary, innovations and growth at the airport and a host of other duties he was called on by the town to complete.
Houlton Police Chief Tim DeLuca said that Stewart’s knowledge, skills and his dedication to the mission of the town are rare.
“I’ve been in public service for 41 years and it’s been rare that I have ever worked with such a professional as Chris Stewart,” DeLuca said. “We’re going to have a hard time finding somebody to fill his shoes. He’s going to be sorely missed and we will see the aftermath of his resignation.”
Stewart did not give a reason for his resignation, but after the meeting he said it was time for him to move on and do something different.
“The public works employees, Houlton International Airport and park maintenance employees are great people; loyal and always ready for the job,” Stewart said during the council meeting. “They don’t get enough credit and they should get a lot more credit for all the work they get done.”
Earlier this month, the town’s department of public works employees’ union declared no confidence in the Town Council and Town Manager Cameron Clark, who was arrested and jailed on domestic violence assault and felony victim tampering charges. At the time of the declaration, Clark was still on the job and the public works employees called for him to be placed on administrative leave.
In a letter obtained by the Bangor Daily News earlier this month, the members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1828-05 and Local 220 said the council’s decision to let Clark remain in his position has not only hurt the town’s reputation, but is affecting the morale inside and outside of town departments.
Clark was placed on administrative leave, Oct. 10.
The public works “no confidence” letter was co-signed by the town’s emergency workers and delivered to town officials two days after Houlton’s police union wrote a letter with the same sentiment.
Houlton Patrol Sgt. Travis Smith and Officer Ethan Jacques also resigned in September.
Smith worked for the department for 10 years. The decision was not an easy one, he said in a resignation letter obtained by the Bangor Daily News through a Freedom of Access Act request.
“I cannot say enough positive words to describe my time serving under Chief Tim DeLuca. He is a true leader and a steward of the profession,” Smith said. “Respectfully, the same cannot be said about the Houlton Town Council and the Town Manager.”
Smith described in his letter a lack of support, appreciation or loyalty by the town.
“I have lost faith in the council and the town manager,” he said.
Similarly, Jacques, who began working for the police department in 2021, also praised the police department leadership and how the department felt like his second family in a resignation letter obtained by the BDN.
Jacques said he made the difficult decision to resign after a counteroffer from the town during contract negotiations was disappointing.
“It left a sense of feeling inconsequential,” he said in his letter.
Smith and Jacques took positions with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.
Five town councilors also resigned in the aftermath of Clark’s arrest, leaving the town government without a quorum. On Oct. 15, three were appointed to one-year terms, but the status of the remaining open seats remains uncertain because the two candidates on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election resigned from the council but did not withdraw from the race.
