Machiavellian Maneuvers in L-Town

On January 19, 2023, at approximately 4:50 PM, the Town of Londonderry Associate Planner, Laura Gandia, was asked by Human Resource Manager, Tara Kosa, to meet with the Londonderry Town Manager, Mike Malaguti.

“During that brief meeting, Gandia heard for the first time that her position in the Town’s Planning Department was being eliminated through a Reorganization Plan that Malaguti would be proposing to the Town Council”, according to an article in the 1-24-23 edition of The Londonderry Times (Chris Paul). (See #receipt)

What transpired next is almost unbelievable.  Gandia, an employee with the Town of Londonderry since 2016, who is also an attorney, asked Malaguti if she could gather her belongings from her office.  Malaguti denied the request, and confiscated Gandia’s Town credentials and keys, then escorted her out of Town Hall……. Wait…..What?  Gandia has a clean personnel jacket, with no disciplinary record.  The Associate Planner position was being eliminated due to a Reorganization Plan (allegedly), according to Malaguti.  Why then was Gandia being treated as a terminated employee or worse?

The Town of Londonderry is a Town Manager form of Government, with a 5-member Town Council.  The Associate Planner position is part of one of the Town’s 7 Unions.  The Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Union which covers the Associate Planner is under agreement until 2025.  RobbiLeaks Faithful would be correct in thinking that Town Manager Malaguti committed, what will prove to be,  a very costly error for the taxpayers of Londonderry.

RobbiLeaks has vast experience and knowledge of not only Municipal Government, but Labor Law as well.  “Same story, different Town.”  The level of incompetence is astounding.  RobbiLeaks does enjoy bashing Town Managers, who were never qualified to ascend to the position.  Up to this point, the Town Manager in Salem, Chris “TM Dumbass” Dillon, has taken top honors.  That may change if “Malaguti the Meathead” doesn’t pull his cranium out of his rectum.

RobbiLeaks is not alone in its assessment.  At the January 23, 2023 Londonderry Town Council meeting, during public comment, which the Chairman of the Salem Board of Selectmen, Cathy “Puppet” Stacey, does not allow; current/ former employees, Planning and Zoning Board Members, Town Historians, Residents, Business Owners, the Union Representative, and an Attorney all blasted “Malaguti the Meathead” for not only how he treated Gandia, but also strongly urged the Town Council to vote against the proposed Reorganization Plan.

All of those who spoke before the Town Council relayed praise and accolades for Gandia, not only as an employee, but as a person.  

During his presentation, “Malaguti the Meathead” claimed the elimination of the Associate Planner position would save the Londonderry taxpayers over $145,000, claiming “there are redundancies in the support functions performed by the Associate Planner and administrative duties for which the Town Planner is responsible.”  RobbiLeaks submits that the Town of Londonderry will now be paying attorney fees for the previously “built-in” legal advice that Gandia provided.

But wait……there’s more…..RobbiLeaks has confirmed the new Assistant Town Manager was previously an employee in the Planning Department.  This smells, in fact, it stinks as if there is more to the story.

The Town Council then went into Non-Public session to deliberate.  The Town Council was unable to make a decision on Malaguti’s proposed Reorganization Plan.  The Town Council, wisely, said they would be seeking legal advice.  The discussion is scheduled to resume at the February 6, 2023 Town Council meeting.

To the fine folks (residents/taxpayers) of Londonderry, RobbiLeaks has some sage advice……An incompetent Town Manager is far more costly than any salary paid to a dedicated, hardworking, and beloved employee…..Just ask the fine folks in Salem.

To “Malaguti the Meathead” and the Londonderry Town Council, RobbiLeaks is watching.

Stay Tuned.