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There's a major dispute in the Dangriga Town Council and it pits the town administrator Austin Petillo against Mayor Robert Mariano.
On Wednesday, Petillo went to the unusual length of posting a handwritten letter on the Mayor's office door. It addressed a disciplinary issue he had initiated against a staffer which was allegedly blocked by the mayor.
He says he was, quote, "asked to delay disciplinary action to which I respectfully declined." End quote.
But, it seems that Mayor Mariano wanted to bring in the PUP honchos to settle the matters and Petillo balked at that. He wrote, "I have found no allowance for political interference in council issues. Mayor later informed me that the PUP Committee will be in Dangriga in a week and a half and instructed me to halt all disciplinary issues for two weeks and that they will send a recommendation from the councilor committee. I hereby direct all council issues to the mayor until these issues are resolved. I demand respect as the Town Administrator and (all caps here) "I WILL NOT SUPPORT CORRUPTION."
Now, this is not idle talk - it's a direct message from the Town's most senior staffer - the man tasked to run all its affairs. And if he didn't say enough there Petillo who posts under his nickname "Namu Le" added in a Facebook post, "I refuse, however, to hold a rubber stamp position or be a political puppet.
Since the authority of the Town Administrator can be compromised for the wrong doings of two super important persons, I might need to come to this forum with Robert Mariano and the Dangriga Town Council?"
We'll be seeking comments from the Mayor tomorrow.
