01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, September 6, 2007

By Maria Armental

Journal Staff Writer

CHARLESTOWN — The announced resignation of the town’s on-site wastewater specialist has sparked renewed concerns over the political climate in town.

Diane Johnson gave Town Administrator Edward M. Barrett two weeks’ notice Tuesday. She will join the town engineering staff in Narragansett.

Johnson had been hired through a grant, which had since expired.

Councilman James M. Mageau had criticized the fact that she continued working for the town after the grant expired, saying it was contrary to the will of the voters, who in November 2006 rejected the hiring of a town engineer.

The latest controversy stems from an e-mail exchange between Johnson and Town Council President Katharine H. Waterman.

“It is unfortunate that the Town of Charlestown is unable to embrace the idea having a technical person onboard and instead views my position as a threat rather than an asset,” Johnson wrote to Waterman Tuesday, telling her she would be leaving for Narragansett.

“I have always been more than willing and capable; offering on many occasions my engineering expertise and review but was always told not to interfere,” Johnson added.

In her reply, also dated Tuesday, Waterman lamented Johnson’s departure and blamed it on the town’s political climate.

“This is Narragansett’s gain and Charlestown’s real loss,” Waterman wrote.

“The parties responsible for this loss have once again demonstrated their complete disregard for the town and its citizens,” Waterman said, a remarked seemingly directed at Mageau and his allies.

“I wonder how long before Charlestown recognizes how much serious permanent damage has already been done in less than a year, and how great the stakes are,” Waterman added. “We will have a lot of mending to do come Nov. ’08.”

The council is expected to discuss Johnson’s resignation Monday at its regular meeting along with Waterman’s e-mail statements.

“I also want to add this e-mail on the agenda that Kate Waterman sent to Diane Johnson where she addresses the permanent damage that was done by the Town Council to the Town of Charlestown,” Mageau said last night during the council’s workshop, “so that you [Waterman] can tell the citizens of Charlestown what the damage was.”

“I will be happy to tell you,” Waterman replied.

Waterman referred to the e-mail inclusion as “unauthorized delivery of personal e-mails.” But Mageau pointed out the e-mail had been copied to the town administrator’s town e-mail address.

“See, town administrator at Charlestown Town Hall. I think it’s public business,” Mageau said, holding a printout of the e-mail.

“He sends everything without even asking,” Waterman said.

Earlier this summer, another e-mail Waterman forwarded to that e-mail was also released to the public.

In that case, Waterman had intended to forward the e-mail to Richard Sartor, the town’s former administrator, but e-mailed it to the town administrator’s address, now assigned to Barrett.

And in July, the Town Council asked Town Solicitor Robert E. Craven to review whether the council could investigate allegations raised by Waterman in another e-mail, to town resident Joseph S. Dolock, in which she told Dolock town government “is more corrupt than you want to believe.”

Last night, council Vice President Harriet A. Allen also requested the council add to the agenda an item to for the town to move to hire a replacement for Johnson’s position.

“If you want to vote against it, you can,” Allen said.

“Probably,” offered Councilman John O. Craig Jr.

Charlestown

marmenta@projo.com