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Jenkins Retained as Westbrook Public Works Employee

Former Westbrook fire chief Mike Jenkins, who resigned after public outcry over offensive memes he posted on social media, has been retained as a full-time employee in the town’s Department of Public Works and is no longer on paid administrative leave.

A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen (BOS) was held on Aug. 24 in executive session with Jenkins and the town’s labor attorney, Gabriel J. Jiran. Jenkins was placed on paid administrative leave pending further discussion. It is unclear when the decision was made to retain Jenkins as a full-time town employee.

Jenkins emailed his resignation as fire chief to the Board of Fire Commissioners (BFC) on Aug. 27, he told Harbor News by phone. At its Aug. 31 meeting, the BFC voted to accept Jenkins’s resignation and remove him entirely from the town’s volunteer fire department for one year.

In response to questions about the outcome, Bishop issued a formal statement that he said was on behalf of the BOS.

“The matter has been addressed with Mr. Jenkins. I will not go into the details of a personnel matter; however, after consideration by the BOS, the action taken is expected to prevent this from occurring again. If it does not, we will re-visit the issue with Mr. Jenkins,” the statement reads.

The statement does not appear to have been posted to the town’s website.

Bishop declined to respond to questions about specifics of the action taken or whether that action was specific to Jenkins or applied to all town employees.

Jiran declined to answer questions regarding the process used to determine the town’s decision in the matter, saying he was not authorized to speak on behalf of his client.

Public Works Department Director John Riggio declined to comment to the Harbor News.