Immense Pressure This was the scene at 7:05 p.m. last Tuesday night, April 15th, when Blackstone Town Council returned to open session after an hour-long meeting behind closed doors to discuss Personnel–Administration–Mayor. No action was taken, but Mayor Ben Green (left) resigned from office the next day at 2:04 p.m. Tuesday night’s closed session included review of an insurance company’s report on its investigation into a sexual harassment complaint filed by a female Town employee against Green, who adamantly denies the claim. Ward D Councilwoman Carolyn Williams is shown at right. Council members reportedly indicated to Green in closed session that if he didn’t resign, they would call another meeting and publicly call on him to do so. Green is asking for the Town to pay his attorney’s fees.
WHO WILL BECOME TOWN’S NEXT CEO?
Lawrence Benjamin Green insists that a comment he made in January about a female Town employee doesn’t meet the definition of sexual harassment.
Blackstone’s ex-Mayor also says the employee’s complaint was so poorly handled by Town Manager Philip Vannoorbeeck, it is the Town Manager’s actions that deserve Council’s immediate attention and full scrutiny.
Green, 64, resigned last Wednesday afternoon — less than 24 hours after attending a special meeting called by Council to discuss the complaint that has rocked Town Hall for the past month. Green had led the Town since Jan. 2023.
STILL ADAMANT In his resignation letter that appears today on page 2, Green insists he “did not make any lewd or salacious comments” on January 8th — the date he was overheard by the employee gushing about her appearance while Green was meeting in the Town Manager’s office with Vannoorbeeck and Councilman Chris Page. In closed session last Tuesday night, April 15th, Green presented officials an “executive summary” of events prepared by his attorney. Also during closed session, Council President Eric Nash presented copies of the insurance company’s report on the investigation into the employee’s complaint.
‘PHONE INTERVIEW?’ Most of that report dealt with interviews of Green, Vannoorbeeck, Page, and several members of Town staff on April 7th in the police department conference room. Green points out, however, that the complainant didn’t attend that hearing and instead was interviewed four days later — by phone. “How can anyone judge the credibility of a witness over the telephone?” Green asks in his resignation letter.
GOING AFTER MANAGER Green said he hopes the investigator focused on “a number of issues associated with Philip’s mishandling” of the complaint…specifically, according to Green: “Philip sharing her complaint with at least three other Town employees with no reason to know; Philip joking about the complaint; Philip failing to deal with the complaint promptly;” and allegations in the complaint that “Philip creates an atmosphere in the Town that makes several employees feel unsafe.” Green apologizes for what he says was an inappropriate comment about the woman’s attractiveness being a distraction — but insisted he didn’t make lewd comments about wanting to see her bend over or about her chest.
PAGE & THE GREENS Green says that additionally, Councilman Page recently assured both Green and his wife, Field, that Page didn’t hear Green make lewd comments about the woman bending over or her chest. Page, however, has said publicly that Green has “down-
played what he said to a single comment — which is not the case.” Page also insists that Green’s admitted comment does indeed qualify as sexual harassment under the Town’s policy.
Page in recent weeks has told several colleagues and residents, “I’m not going to lie about the mayor — but I’m not going to lie for him, either.”
TIME TICKING State law requires that Council must fill the empty Mayor’s seat within 45 days after it became vacant, which would put the deadline at May 31st — or the Circuit Court will fill it. Council agreed this past Monday night to seek letters of interest, resumes, and letters of support until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2nd. Two weeks of interviews will follow, then Council will hold a public hearing on applicants on Monday, May 19th, with the goal of making an appointment on May 28th.
‘FOR COMMUNITY’ Green says he quit the Town’s highest elected position “because I care more about my family and friends and how this is affecting them.”
Blackstone’s 21st Mayor also said that just as importantly, “stepping aside is necessary for the good of our community” and that “I cannot spend another minute associated with this Town government.”
LEAKS FROM PROBE The Courier-Record has been informed that at least one Town employee complained to the investigator about hearing the Town Manager speak of past ‘conquests’ during his college years. The Courier-Record also has been informed that the investigator noted that Green used the word “heinous” several times to describe what he said, while at the same time denying that he made lewd comments of which he is accused. The report also is said to quote Vannoorbeeck as saying he heard Green, generally, make similar comments that the complainant alleges. Green’s presentation last week to Council also asked for the Town to pay his legal fees. “I should not have had to hire a lawyer to ensure my rights were protected…I was forced to do so because the Town decided to skip the proper grievance process.”
In a previous letter, Green’s attorney, Steve Brown of Richmond, has accused Vannoorbeeck of defamation for spreading falsehoods about his client.
MORE TO COME Green also says that in attention to the botched complaint against him, “Philip should be disciplined for his conduct… not just for failing to follow the Sexual Harassment policy, but also for telling three employees about the complaint and for joking about it.” Green also says the recent resignation letter from Treasurer Brittany Morgan “paints a picture of mismanagement by Philip on several levels and potential issues of some members of Council.”
HOST OF COMPLAINTS Former Treasurer Morgan’s letter didn’t ‘name names,’ but those issues include an allegation that at least one member of Council has told female staff, “All of you white girls look the same.” In a recent Facebook interview with the Courier-Record, Councilman Nathaniel Miller sat down and adamantly insisted that it wasn’t him who made that comment.
OTHER REPORTS There are reports that another official “threw a fit” at Town Hall when their power was to be disconnected for non-payment and during that incident demanded to be addressed as “The Honorable.” There also are reports that another member of Council pressured the Town Manager to create a paid internship for a member of their family. And there are reports that a member of Council borrowed several thousand dollars from the Town Manager to avoid a pending arrest for failing to pay a large sum of money after a court’s judgement. Still another report focuses on a Councilmember’s family member not being charged bus fare or being allowed to ride the bus for a period of time on credit. Council’s Employment & Police Committee (Nathaniel Miller, Carolyn Williams, Jake Allman) has scheduled a meeting for 7:00 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, April 23rd) to discuss Personnel and Human Resources. Council for three years has debated whether or not to hire a full-time or part-time HR director.
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