Bourne public works chief moves on following clashes with town administrator
BOURNE — The town’s sixth public works chief since the 1960s resigned Friday after taking several months of personal leave and a public vow not to return to work if Town Administrator Marlene McCollem remains on the job.
McCollem accepted Shawn Patterson’s resignation without comment on Monday and thanked Interim Public Works Director Matt Quinn for serving in that capacity until a new director can be hired.
Patterson was hired in January 2021 when Anthony Schiavi was the Bourne administrator. Earlier this summer, Patterson said he could not return to work in Bourne with what he described as a change in the work environment and administrative culture. He cited what he called the “disrespectful” attitude of McCollem during a meeting called to consider the last public works budget.
In an email Tuesday night, Patterson confirmed he is “pursuing” the public works director post in Marshfield and considering other “opportunities.”
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“As everyone knows; there are some irreconcilable differences between the town administrator and myself,” he said.
Patterson praised Quinn as “an excellent public works manager" and "more than capable of fulfilling the duties" and "hopefully he will be a candidate for the position full time.”
Patterson said the upper and middle management within the department is “very strong and hopefully they will have the opportunity to step up.”
More: Bourne names Patterson new public works director
“I would like to thank Shawn for his many years of service to the Town of Bourne and offer best wishes for success in his future endeavors,” Select Board Chair Mary Jane Mastrangelo said in an Aug. 22 email message.
What preceded Patterson's departure?
Patterson’s departure follows a falling out with McCollem about the public works deficit with the fiscal 2023 budget and spending across line items. Patterson’s handling of programs across public works, recycling and daily trash collection was not a factor in the disagreement.
Some projects, however, will likely remain in hiatus. They include efforts to include motoring and pedestrian safety improvements to heavily traveled Four Corners at Shore and Barlows Landing roads in Pocasset, upgrading Trading Post Corners in the village of Bourne and resurfacing Shore Road from Bourne to Cataumet.
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Patterson said he is proud of the work the public works department accomplished over the past few years.
Previously in Bourne he worked on the fire department and landfill division as the trash disposal operation moved from the old town dump off Route 28, known as MacArthur Boulevard, to landfilling, which ultimately resulted in close working relationships between landfill managers and the public works administration.
In addition to public works duties, he was also assigned to the Landfill Business Model Working Group, the Local Emergency Planning, Roadway Traffic Safety and Roadway Acceptance Advisory committees as well as the regional Cape Cod Joint Transportation Committee at Barnstable.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Bourne public works head resigns, cites town administrator conflict
