HOULTON, Maine — A second Houlton town councilor resigned on Friday amid escalating public outrage that the town manager remains at the helm following his arrest on domestic violence assault and felony witness tampering charges.
Alexis Brown, who was appointed to the council earlier this year after Councilor Mark Horvath resigned, said it had become clear that her perspective differed significantly from the majority of the council.
Her resignation came just hours after Councilor Jon McLaughlin resigned, citing similar differences after the council’s decision to keep Town Manager Cameron Clark in his position. The resignations speak to a growing division among town councilors and leave the town with only four councilors and the chairperson, just enough for a quorum, according to the town charter.
“My morals and ethics will not allow me to continue supporting positions and decisions that I cannot in good conscience uphold,” Brown said in a letter she sent to the Bangor Daily News Friday afternoon. “At this time, I must acknowledge that my voice is not clearly heard within the chamber and as such I cannot effectively serve in this role.”
Clark was arrested and jailed last week by Aroostook County sheriff’s deputies on charges of Class B tampering with a witness, a felony, and Class D domestic violence assault.
The council has maintained a neutral stance since Clark’s arrest and on Thursday night, during a special town council meeting and executive session with Clark and the town attorney, they took no action.
In a Friday afternoon public statement, council Chairperson Jane Torres said that there was no change in Clark’s role.
And despite Clark’s felony arrest, an increasingly vocal public outrage and the urging of the Maine Town, City & County Management Association to place him on administrative leave with pay until the matter is resolved, the council is standing by Clark.
“The Houlton Town Council acknowledges that the charges brought against our town manager are a matter of serious concern,” said Torres in Friday’s statement. “However, these allegations are currently under the jurisdiction of the court system, and we honor their process to uphold truth and justice.”
Brown emphasized that her decision was not born out of a lack of love or commitment to Houlton.
“Quite the opposite, this town is where I chose to set down roots and raise my family and it will always be central to my heart,” she said. “I must recognise that the mission of the council and my own values are not presently aligned.”
Similar to Brown, McLaughlin said that it became clear his perspective differs from most of the council and that he can no longer contribute effectively.
On Friday Torres said that the council believes everyone – including public officials – is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
A 24-page police affidavit the BDN obtained Monday recounts explicit details of the Sept. 12 incident alleging Clark repeatedly shoved a woman he had invited to his home with both hands backward off his porch and into the bushes. Clark remains under daily Department of Corrections supervision.
Brown, who manages the Houlton branch of Katahdin Trust, received an Aroostook Achiever honor for business and leadership development, and she has been active in several community organizations such as Vital Pathways, Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce and the Shire Mentor program.
In her resignation from the council letter, she said she remains dedicated to the future of the town.
“I will continue to serve the town in other capacities that better align with my moral and ethical compass, where decisions made are those that I can confidently and proudly stand behind,” Brown said.
