With the 3-2 vote of the Livermore Falls Board of Selectmen, it appears that the town employees’ lobby has achieved another of its objectives: the removal of Alan Gove as town manager.

It is not at all surprising to anyone who has paid attention to the events within our town.

First, $17,000 was spent to sort through accusations. When that failed to meet the objective, the next event was to get a majority of the board elected who were sympathetic to the employees’ cause. Bingo.

The three votes not to extend Mr. Gove’s contract came from the town clerk’s husband, Russell Flagg; a highway department employee’s brother, Bernal Lake; and a transfer station employee’s stepdaughter, Joyce Drake.

The taxpayers are the real problem. They sit back and allow these things to happen and then wonder why the tax rate is so high in our town.

Mr. Gove is a real bargain with a zest and a will to improve our town. His only problem is that he isn’t a member of the good-ol’ employees club. He is someone who tries to do what he was hired to do, manage the town’s affairs.

What a sad commentary.

Hopefully, before Mr. Gove does leave, different decisions will be made to reflect the true best interest of our town of Livermore Falls.

Clayton Putnam, Livermore Falls

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