Government

Greenport Village utilities director takes ‘leave of absence’

Greenport Village utilities director Jack Naylor to give an electric power update tonight
JENNIFER GUSTAVSON FILE PHOTO | Greenport utilities director Jack Naylor has taken a leave of absence.

Jack Naylor has taken a leave of absence from his position as Greenport Village utilities director, Mayor David Nyce confirmed Wednesday.

The length of time Mr. Naylor will remain off the job, along with other conditions of the leave, were not immediately made public because it is a result of ongoing labor contract negotiations, the mayor said.

According to an automatic email response sent from Mr. Naylor’s village email account, the leave of absence took effect Monday.

When reached on his cell phone Wednesday, Mr. Naylor said it was his decision to take the leave of absence, but declined to comment further.

“At this point in time I think things are better left unsaid,” he said.

The board has expressed dissatisfaction with Mr. Naylor’s performance in recent years.

In April 2012, Trustee Mary Bess Phillips, who declined comment Wednesday, proposed cutting Mr. Naylor’s one-year term in half because she had been unhappy with his oversight of the wastewater treatment and light plants.

Members approved the shortened 180-day term by a 3-1 vote, with Mr. Nyce casting the lone dissenting vote after failing to sway his fellow trustees to vote on a one-year reappointment.

The dispute appeared to be resolved in October when the mayor confirmed that Mr. Naylor would stay on as utilities director.

Since Mr. Naylor holds a civil service job, he is protected until the next reorganizational meeting in April, the Mayor previously said during the first round of term adjustments. If the board decided to fire Mr. Naylor, who was first appointed in 2007, legal action by the village’s labor council would be required, the mayor said.

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