Chandler Talks About Taylor Firing

Howard Chandler, whose 29 years of service as executive director of the Taylor Community abruptly came to end on June 25, broke his three month-long silence yesterday. He confirmed that he had not resigned, as was announced by the corporations board trustees, but had been fired for reasons that were never articulated for him but may have grown out of a complaint from a female subordinate that he was "bullying" her.

Chandler also charged that Taylor Community officials spread the word that he was mentally unstable and potentially dangerous and it was that characterization that led to the significant police presence on the community's Union Ave. campus in the days following his dismissal.

Neither the chair of the board of trustees, Janet Mitchell, nor the president of the residents association, Dr. Mendon MacDonald, could be reached yesterday for a reaction to Chandler’s comments.

In a prepared statement, Chandler said that he had been working under a “year-to-year contract extending from May 1st to April 30th each year (to coincide with the organization’s fiscal year) for a number of years. Typically, the actual contract was executed several months after the beginning of the fiscal year following receipt of the auditor’s report for the previous year. This year was no exception."

According to Chandler, "the chair of the board of directors actually went to the trouble to tell me in April that I did not have to worry about the renewal.”

“I was heartened by that information, since it confirmed the arrangement the board and I made last fall relating to financial support for my pursuit of a doctorate in organizational management. In return for that support, I agreed to commit to six years of continued employment at the Taylor Community.”

“Shortly after I made that commitment, a senior Taylor Community administrator (who Chandler declined to identify for this article) complained to the board that I was ‘bullying’ her. The board took the advice of the community’s corporate counsel, Willard G. “Bud” Martin, and engaged special counsel to conduct what I was told would be a two-week investigation. It turned out to be a much longer fishing expedition, during which I was not given an opportunity to respond.”

“The complaint was unfounded, but it did not surprise me. I was well aware of the employee’s dissatisfaction with a board approved reorganization plan that reduced the number of employees reporting directly to her. The board also approved my seeking direct accountability from her in the areas of state compliance, elimination of using outside agency staffing in place of employees, and significant reduction in health services staff turnover,“ Chandler continued.

“Then, on June 24, attorney Martin left a message that I was to meet him late that afternoon in his downtown Laconia office. There, I was informed that my employment with the Taylor Community was over. When I asked why, I was repeatedly told that the decision (of the board of trustees) was unanimous. My request for an opportunity to meet with the board was denied, and subsequent requests to meet with that group have gone unanswered. Frankly, after 29 years, one would think that a simple request to meet with the trustees would not be asking too much.”

Chandler concluded, “For reasons that defy understanding, the board added insult to injury be not even allowing me to return to my office of collect my personal belongings. To this day, I am still waiting for copies of my personal files.”

“The next day, the Taylor Community advised my attorney that I should be considered as unstable and potentially dangerous. This malicious fabrication was also related to some staff. This view also prompted the community to hire ‘around the clock’ police presence. Without adequate explanation, this action by the Taylor Community leadership left people in the position of drawing their own conclusions that I was dismissed for either stealing or some kind of sexual misconduct. In short, it served to harm my reputation irreparably.”

When asked the question — given what you are saying now, why have you waited so long to speak out as you are today? — Chandler responded that he was given a severance agreement that, had he signed it, would have prohibited him from making any comment about the termination or any other matter relating to the severance agreement or his 29-year employment at the community.

Following his termination, Chandler said, “Even though I had worked for the community for almost 30 years, I was informed I was not entitled to any severance compensation because the new annual contract had not been signed.”

“The trustees did say they would consider a settlement agreement if I agreed to certain conditions. Those conditions included that I would not speak to anyone about any of these circumstances, that neither me nor my wife, Carrie, would come onto any Taylor Community property, that my 8-year old son would not ride his bicycle on the Ledges streets, and that I would not speak to any friends on the staff or among community’s residents. Perhaps the most significant of all was the condition that neither Carrie nor I would ever apply to be a resident of the Taylor Community.” The Chandler’s were also asked to move out of the Cottonwood Avenue home that is owned by the community. (They have since purchased a home in Laconia, and the move has been accomplished.)

“Because my wife has the courage of her convictions, we both decided we would no longer accept the administration’s and trustees’ insulting and disgraceful treatment of us. Consequently, we withdrew from settlement negotiations, knowing, of course, that our decision would leave us without income but with our pride.”

The Chandler’s reached the decision to end the settlement discussions before the annual meeting of Taylor Community incorporators on September 15, and Chandler actually attended that meeting.

“It was wonderful to attend that meeting and to see so many of our friends again,” Chandler said. “However, it was horrible to see incorporators and residents treated with such disrespect.” He was referring to the statement of incoming trustees chair Janet Mitchell that decisions made by the trustees were “none of your (the incorporators) business" just before she gaveled the meeting to a close.

Chandler said he was concerned about staff fears. “Staff turnover has never been higher,” he observed. “Furthermore, residents are anxious about what is going to happen next to disrupt their sense of security when they should just be able to enjoy the quiet of their retirement.”

Chandler ended his statement by saying, “my commitment to the residents and staff of the Taylor Community remains unchanged. I have pledged to the trustees my willingness to work in any way I can to further the mission of the community in serving the needs of elders in our community.”

Chandler has taken on consulting work for several not for profit and aging services organizations.

Neither the chair of the board of trustees, Janet Mitchell, nor the president of the residents association, Dr. Mendon MacDonald, could be reached yesterday for a reaction to Chandler’s comments.

The Taylor Community was founded in 1907 as a home for the aged without family to provide care. It is regarded as one of the leading institutions of its kind in New Hampshire, if not the country. Chandler became executive director in 1979. In the 29 years he held the position, the community grew from 32 residents to more than 400.

The first renovation of the original Taylor Home — the grey stucco building with the expansive front lawn on Union Avenue in Laconia — was just being completed as Chandler arrived for his first day of work. Since then, the Laconia campus has grown to include the independent living village known as the Ledges, the congregate living center known as Ledgeview, and the 57-unit independent living apartment building called Woodside. The Taylor Community also has campus facilities in Moultonborough, Sandwich, Wolfeboro, and Pembroke, all of which were built during Chandler’s tenure as executive director.