A Johnson village lineman has been placed on paid leave pending an investigation into his allegations and counter-allegations of ongoing harassment by a colleague.
A series of incidents that Paul Stankiewicz, a lineman for the Johnson village utility, believes to be related to a years-long pattern of harassment recently culminated in a demand that a co-worker pay him several thousand dollars for reportedly damaging his personal vehicle, though Stankiewicz provided no evidence to the support his claim.
Stankiewicz was placed on administrative leave with a no trespass order by his boss, village manager Erik Bailey, after allegations that Stankiewicz “made threats to other employees,” according to a document provided to the News & Citizen.
Stankiewicz will remain on disciplinary leave while Bailey investigates “potential misconduct” by him “and/or other crew members,” according to the document.
After the investigation, Bailey will advise the Johnson Board of Trustees regarding any disciplinary action.
Bailey was unable to comment as the matter involves an ongoing personnel issue.
In late March, Stankiewicz reported his colleague to the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department, alleging that he had “tried to run him off the road, broken his windshield, rubbed grease on his vehicle and possibly messed with the brakes on his vehicle,” according to the incident report.
Stankiewicz also alleged in the report that someone who “knows” this colleague was driving a vehicle that nearly hit him, but he didn’t know the identity of the friend.
Police advised Stankiewicz to seek a protection order but declined to take further action after noting the public history of tension between Stankiewicz, his colleague and the village of Johnson.
In an interview, Stankiewicz detailed a deep sense of suspicion toward his work colleagues and superiors but could not provide any direct evidence to substantiate the accusations.
Harassment history
With his most recent suspension, the back-and-forth allegations of threats and harassment between Stankiewicz and his colleagues, as well as superiors, is entering at least its third year.
In 2021, Stankiewicz was suspended for the first time. A lineman for the village utility since 2016, he was suspended when former village manager Meredith Dolan accused him of threatening her.
Stankiewicz alleged that Dolan’s husband and former village foreman, Troy Dolan, enabled the harassment of Stankiewicz by fellow linemen, including the colleague Stankiewicz has accused this spring.
Village trustees attempted to lay Stankiewicz off before the investigation into Dolan’s accusation was complete but was forced to allow him back after a union arbitration found the move to be a clear violation of his contract.
The mandated return of Stankiewicz resulted in the resignation of both Dolans, and the lineman’s continued employment with the town despite the ongoing tension.
After Troy Dolan resigned, he filed a complaint alleging unfair labor practices with the Vermont Department of Labor against a former trustee, a complaint all the current Johnson village linemen signed except for Stankiewicz.
The complaint was eventually dropped after Dolan and the trustee moved on.
Hired in late summer 2022, Bailey inherited a divided team of linemen. Nate Brigham was promoted to succeed Troy Dolan as foreman, and the trustees adopted a policy outlining an explicit no-tolerance harassment policy, even as Stankiewicz continued to voice displeasure with colleagues and frustration with his new boss.
Describing himself as the victim of a culture of harassment, Stankiewicz said he intends to try and stay in his job until he is eligible for retirement, which is a few years away.
Trustee returns
As the most recent dispute between Stankiewicz and the village boiled over, a familiar face was voted back to the Johnson Village Board of Trustees.
Former trustee Will Jennison returned to the board after facing no opponent at the annual village meeting in April, along with current trustee GiGi Beach, who also faced no opposition.
Jennison, a former board chair, resigned in 2022 during Stankiewicz’s union-mandated return to work and the Dolans’ resignation.
Jennison supported Troy Dolan’s claims against Stankiewicz during the arbitration but had not informed his fellow trustees about the matter. He was appointed in 2021 during a separate village conflict centered around racial justice policies.
Jennison replaces Lynda Hill, who was elected to the board shortly before his resignation after defeating incumbent BJ Putvain. Putvain was then reappointed to the board to replace Jennison.
Jennison did not respond to a request for comment.
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