Former Town Administrator Laura Allen

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(Dec. 26, 2019) The Town of Berlin saw a major personnel change in 2019, when former Town Administrator Laura Allen was relieved of her duties in September.

Allen was fired following a unanimous decision by the Town Council on Sept. 16, according to Mayor Gee Williams.

“It was unfortunate that this came about, but we’re all committed to trying to do what’s in the best long-term interest of the town,” Williams said in a September interview with the Bayside Gazette.

Because the dismissal was a personnel matter, no cause for Allen’s departure was revealed. But Williams did confirm that the handling of the chemical spill at Heron Park was a factor.

“As town administrator, I served at the will of the mayor and council. It’s their right to make changes as they see fit,” Allen said of the decision.

Allen was hired on Sept. 3, 2013 and served for six years. Among her responsibilities this past year was work to mitigate the chemical spill at Heron Park and the fiscal year 2020 budget cycle, which involved restructuring the property tax, water and sewer rates.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood

Following Allen’s departure, Managing Director Jeff Fleetwood assumed the role of acting town administrator. That lasted about six weeks, before the “acting” part of his title was dropped, and he was promoted to town administrator.

“I’m embarking on a new role in the Town of Berlin, and my commitment to you, and my commitment to these folks … is to give 100 percent,” Fleetwood said during an Oct. 28 Town Council meeting.

Williams said that the Town Council unanimously agreed to the personnel decision one week earlier.

Before Fleetwood was promoted to the top management post, he served as the managing director for about two years and was responsible for working
on special projects and with department heads, as well as meeting with businesses and citizens.

He was hired by the town in 2010 as the human resources director.

Mary Bohlen, former administrative services director, was appointed deputy town administrator. It’s unclear when Fleetwood’s former position will be filled.