SABATTUS — In a quick 3-2 vote without discussion, selectmen accepted Town Manager Gregory Gill's resignation Tuesday night.

Gill's last day was Monday. His one-year contract as the town's first town manager had expired in July 2008. He'd worked the last year without one. Selectmen Paul Loesberg and Jeff Baril voted against accepting the letter of resignation, Chair Mark Duquette, William Henshaw and Scott Lansley in favor.

Local state Sen. John Nutting and state Rep. Stacy Dostie, both in the audience, raised concerns about what might have led up to it.

"I don't want to leave us vulnerable," Dostie told selectmen. She'd been in touch with the Maine Municipal Association for advice after Gill contacted her Monday.

Nutting said he was concerned that minds were made up privately before issues were made public, going against Maine's Right to Know law.

Personnel decisions are "supposed to be done at a public meeting, not a couple of people having coffee and (saying that) you're not coming back," Nutting said. "Not a private meeting and someone's told they have a choice to resign or get fired."

Lansley said the board consulted a lawyer and that Gill had signed both a letter of resignation and a waiver against further claims against the town of Sabattus.

Asked about Nutting's charges, Duquette said, "It's unfortunate, but he resigned."

Baril said he had no comment on his vote. "We wish him well."

Gill, who lives in Mt. Vernon, did not attend the meeting and could not be reached for comment. After an hour of executive sessions, the board approved, with the same 3-2 split, a severance package of three months pay, plus $5,000 and up to six months of health and dental benefits.

Duquette said he would be in touch with the MMA on Wednesday for help lining up an interim town manager. Before Sabattus switched to that form of government, it had a town administrator.

kskelton@sunjournal.com