AMHERST – Town officials are going to great lengths to keep secret the reasons behind Town Administrator Jim O’Mara’s leave of absence, a situation that mirrors the secrecy that surrounded his hiring.
Late last week, O’Mara went on paid leave after a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
Board member George Infanti said he has signed a non-disclosure agreement not to reveal anything about the situation, and thinks the entire Town Hall staff was asked to sign similar agreements.
“We really can’t comment,” Infanti said, calling it a personnel matter.
Selectmen said rumors are not true that O’Mara had been escorted out of Town Hall by police.
In fact, he said, O’Mara drove the town car home after he was put on leave, although he no longer has the use of the car, Infanti said.
O’Mara was serving as selectmen’s chairman when the board hired him a little more than a year ago.
Selectmen met in several non-public sessions after the process began at the start of June of 2011, shortly after town administrator Gary MacGuire announced his retirement.
Those nonpublic sessions on personnel matters continued until August when selectmen announced they had narrowed their selection to two finalists.![]()
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