Police were recently called to the treasurer-collector's office after an alarm was triggered because the tax collector wanted the town accountant removed from the office.
PALMER - Treasurer-Collector Paul A. Nowicki is scheduled to leave his post at the end of the month, after a week's vacation followed by an 11-day paid administrative leave.
Paul Nowicki Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard called Nowicki's impending departure "a personnel matter that I cannot comment on."
The departure of Nowicki follows an incident on Aug. 27 in which Police Lt. John J. Janulewicz went to the treasurer-collector's office after an alarm inside it was triggered, alerting the police. The police log shows that the alarm went off at 11:25 a.m.
Janulewicz said as he approached the office, he saw Town Accountant - Finance Director John P. Kuzmiski in the hallway, while Nowicki was inside the office. He said they were having a "difference of opinion."
According to Janulewicz, the police log entry states that the "tax collector wanted the town accountant removed from his office."
He said no one was arrested and attributed the incident to a "boss-employee" issue.
Kuzmiski was promoted to finance director, a charter requirement, this summer, and now oversees the treasurer-collector position. Kuzmiski declined comment on the matter, referring questions to the police.
Nowicki, of Ware, who was set to make $62,545 in fiscal 2014, was hired by the town in 2010. He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday or Thursday.
Blanchard informed department heads in an email on Sept. 9 that Nowicki, 54, had resigned.
Blanchard indicated in the email that on Aug. 23, Nowicki announced that he had gotten a new job and would be leaving as of Sept. 30. Blanchard wrote that he accepted his resignation as of that date. Nowicki did not submit a resignation letter, according to Blanchard.
"Carolyn Baldyga continues as the assistant collector/treasurer and we are in the process of hiring an acting treasurer to provide additional support during the transition to a new permanent collector/treasurer," Blanchard wrote.
Blanchard said on Wednesday that he enjoyed working with Nowicki, who held treasurer-collector jobs in Boylston and Ware before coming to Palmer. Nowicki also was a finalist for a treasurer-collector position in Westfield last year.
"I wish him well on his future endeavors," Blanchard said.