{"id":13391,"date":"2013-02-15T12:36:05","date_gmt":"2013-02-15T17:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/?p=13391"},"modified":"2013-02-15T12:37:23","modified_gmt":"2013-02-15T17:37:23","slug":"carrolls-departure-stuns-lgc-critics-and-supporters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2013\/02\/15\/carrolls-departure-stuns-lgc-critics-and-supporters\/","title":{"rendered":"Carroll&#8217;s Departure Stuns LGC Critics And Supporters"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_13396\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"A number of people involved in the LGC case expressed shock at Carroll's dismissal.\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/Altered-LGC-Office.jpg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13396\" title=\"LGC Office\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/Altered-LGC-Office-300x246.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/Altered-LGC-Office-300x246.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/Altered-LGC-Office-620x510.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/Altered-LGC-Office.jpg 1458w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Amanda Loder \/ StateImpact New Hampshire<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A number of people involved in the LGC case expressed shock at Carroll&#39;s dismissal.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Over the past several months, StateImpact has been keeping up with the various twists and turns in the <a title=\"The Essential Guide To The LGC Case\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/?s=LGC\" target=\"_blank\">Local Government Center<\/a> case.\u00a0 The latest development&#8211;the <a title=\"After Board Vote, LGC Chief Steps Down\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2013\/02\/01\/after-board-vote-lgc-chief-steps-down\/\" target=\"_blank\">ouster of Executive Director Maura Carroll<\/a> by the LGC board&#8211;has shocked the organization&#8217;s supporters and critics alike.<\/p>\n<p>This week, I called some of the players in this ongoing saga to get their reaction to Carroll&#8217;s sudden departure, and discussed them with NHPR&#8217;s <em>All Things Considered<\/em> host Brady Carlson.<\/p>\n<p>You can catch our conversation, or read the transcript, after the jump.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-13391-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/LGC-Update-2-Way.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/LGC-Update-2-Way.mp3\">https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/02\/LGC-Update-2-Way.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>Maura Carroll worked at the LGC for 25 years\u2014four of those at the helm of the organization.\u00a0 And the media has taken a lot of interest in her severance package.\u00a0 What do we know, first of all, about that package, and then, why is it important?<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>Sure.\u00a0 It\u2019s important because the LGC is funded by dues from member communities and school districts, and its insurance programs are also funded with premiums paid by public entities.\u00a0 So what we\u2019re talking about here is taxpayer money that comes from numerous towns and cities across the state.\u00a0 As for the severance package, pretty much as soon as the board\u2019s decision was announced, media outlets, including StateImpact, filed Right To Know requests to get the details.\u00a0 In response to the demand, the LGC ultimately posted Carroll\u2019s contract online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>And it\u2019s been widely reported that Carroll could get as much as a year\u2019s salary\u2014more than $189,000&#8211;in severance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content alignright\"><h4 class=\"related-header\">Related<\/h4><div class=\"links\"><h5>Posts<\/h5><ul><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/12\/06\/what-the-lgcs-reorganization-means-to-communities-and-taxpayers\/\">What the LGC&#8217;s Reorganization Means To Communities (And Taxpayers)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2013\/01\/11\/will-an-agency-near-you-be-seeing-an-lgc-payout\/\">Will An Agency Near You Be Seeing An LGC Payout?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2013\/01\/18\/coalition-of-communities-pushes-for-voice-in-lgc-appeal\/\">Coalition Of Communities Pushes For Voice In LGC Appeal<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/12\/12\/coalition-of-towns-challenges-lgc-refund-plans\/\">Coalition Of Towns Challenges LGC Refund Plans<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"topics\"><h5>Topics<\/h5><p class=\"topic\"><img class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2011\/08\/6355404323_cf97f9c58e-60x60.jpg\" height=\"60\" width=\"60\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/topic\/taxes\/\">The Essential Guide To New Hampshire State Taxes<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>She could also see payouts for work expenses and unused vacation.\u00a0 That\u2019s according to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nhlgc.org\/attachments\/aboutlgc\/member_messages\/Employment-Agreement-Maura-Carroll.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">contract<\/a> she signed last June.\u00a0 But as to the final details, she has yet to sign a release that would make this information public.\u00a0 Dave Lang, President of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pffnh.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire<\/a>, has been one of the organization\u2019s most vocal critics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\"><\/span>\u201cMore importantly than the dollars, which I think are pretty impressive, are the other fine details of severance that have not been disclosed of yet,&#8221; Lang says. &#8220;I know that the previous Executive Director, when we were given, under a Right To Know request, the severance package of the previous Executive Director, it was pretty significant and large.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>And Dave Lang referring to when John Andrews retired as head of the LGC.\u00a0 It was widely reported that his package included $100,000.<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>Yes, that was to be paid in $20,000 increments over the course of five years.\u00a0 On paper, that was payment for consulting\u2026which he never actually did.\u00a0 The state stepped in, though, and he ultimately got to keep $40,000 of it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>Now let&#8217;s go back and just explain why there was this sudden departure at all&#8230;why Maura Carroll announced she was stepping down?<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>Well, for much of her tenure, the LGC and its regulator\u2014the <a href=\"http:\/\/sos.nh.gov\/sec_reg.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Bureau of Securities Regulation<\/a>\u2014have pretty much been in a <a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/12\/06\/what-the-lgcs-reorganization-means-to-communities-and-taxpayers\/\" target=\"_blank\">pitched battle<\/a>.\u00a0 The Bureau accused the LGC of over-charging communities for health insurance, hoarding assets, and improperly using funds.\u00a0 This past summer, a hearing officer agreed, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sos.nh.gov\/locgovctr\/Filings\/0237-2012-08-16_FINAL_ORDER.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">ordered<\/a> the LGC to return more than $52 million dollars to communities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><div class=\"module pull-quote left half\">\u201cMore importantly than the dollars, which I think are pretty impressive, are the other fine details of severance that have not been disclosed of yet.\u201d&#8211;Dave Lang, Professional Firefighters of NH<\/div><\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\">The LGC is appealing that decision to the state Supreme Court.\u00a0 But it has to follow the order in the interim.\u00a0 And the LGC\u2019s interpretation of how to do that differs pretty dramatically from how the Bureau of Securities Regulation reads it.\u00a0 After the LGC announced the decision late Friday afternoon, I spoke with board member Shelagh Connelly about how the board came to the unanimous decision to dismiss Carroll.<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been working for months to try and move forward in resolving our appeal and so forth, and so, over time, we\u2019ve been finding ourselves frustrated with our inability to move forward,&#8221; Connelly says.\u00a0 &#8220;And so it was actually over the last couple of weeks that we really sort of came to the final decision that we needed to seek a change in leadership and to try to establish a better rapport and relationship with our regulatory agency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>All right.\u00a0 So the board came to this conclusion, but otherwise, an unexpected departure?<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>Outside the confines of the Local Government Center\u2019s office, absolutely.\u00a0 In fact, I spoke with Keith Hickey, who is the Salem Town Manager.\u00a0 Salem left the LGC in 2012, but until late last year, he was Vice Chair of the LGC board.\u00a0 And he told me he didn\u2019t see it coming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><div class=\"module pull-quote right half\">\u201cAnd for some, the very unfortunate negative publicity which has dogged the Local Government Center has been attributed, I believe unfairly, to Maura Carroll.&#8221;&#8211;Todd Selig, Durham Town Administrator <\/div><\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\">\u201cI\u2019m disappointed.\u00a0 I mean, there had been some conversations, off and on, and I think Maura was somebody who would always put the organization before herself.\u00a0 And I know she did it a couple of times during this very unsettling period,&#8221; Hickey says.\u00a0 &#8220;And I think she cared very much about the organization and was a very selfless person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>Now Salem is one of a number of towns and cities that are upset about the fact that the LGC might only give them partial repayments of their insurance premiums, or maybe none at all.\u00a0 How are these towns taking that news?<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>I get the sense in talking with people on and off the record\u2026that they don\u2019t associate Maura Carroll with the organization\u2019s problems.\u00a0 Take Todd Selig.\u00a0 He\u2019s Town Administrator for Durham.\u00a0 That town has been <a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/12\/12\/coalition-of-towns-challenges-lgc-refund-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\">fighting the LGC<\/a> over how much it should get back for over-paying on insurance premiums.<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\">\u201cAny organization is larger than its CEO.\u00a0 And for some, the very unfortunate negative publicity which has dogged the Local Government Center has been attributed, I believe unfairly, to Maura Carroll,&#8221; Selig says.\u00a0 &#8220;And Maura has worked tirelessly for cities and towns and school districts over 25 years.\u00a0 And it\u2019s important to not lose sight of that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>But given that negative coverage, are there still questions dogging the LGC now?<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>Absolutely.\u00a0 In fact, Dave Lang, President of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire actually registered his disappointment with the decision.\u00a0 After saying he was \u201cencouraged\u201d to hear that the LGC wanted to change course on Friday, he then said\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\">\u201cWe\u2019re very disappointed to see what type of change.\u00a0 When the leaders of the board came out and said that the main reason that they were making this change in leadership was to enhance their relationship with their regulator,&#8221; Lang says.\u00a0 &#8220;Whether you get along with your regulator or you don\u2019t, it\u2019s not really at play here.\u00a0 It\u2019s what&#8217;s the law say?\u00a0 You have to follow the law.\u00a0 What did the hearing officer&#8217;s report rule, and it\u2019s time to implement that hearing officer\u2019s report.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"question\"><span class=\"abbr\">Q: <\/span>And I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll be hearing more from about this case, as it develops.<\/p>\n<p class=\"answer\"><span class=\"abbr\">A: <\/span>Absolutely.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s our StateImpact reporter Amanda Loder.\u00a0 StateImpact is a project of NPR and NHPR examining the effects of public policy on the people, businesses, and economy of New Hampshire.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past several months, StateImpact has been keeping up with the various twists and turns in the Local Government Center case.\u00a0 The latest development&#8211;the ouster of Executive Director Maura Carroll by the LGC board&#8211;has shocked the organization&#8217;s supporters and critics alike. This week, I called some of the players in this ongoing saga to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":13396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[513,455,204],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13391"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13391"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13429,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13391\/revisions\/13429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}