Nantucket Planning Director Leslie Snell Placed On Administrative Leave

Nantucket planning director Leslie Snell has been placed on administrative leave, a source told the Current this week.

The decision to place Snell on leave was allegedly made after an executive session meeting of the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission (NP&EDC) last Thursday, October 29th. That meeting was conducted “to discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual.”

Several members of the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission and Nantucket Select Board have declined to comment, citing an “active investigation.” Snell herself did not immediately return a request for comment.

Town Communications Director Florencia Rullo responded to a request for comment sent by the Current on Wednesday saying that “because this matter was discussed in executive session by the Nantucket Planning & Economic Development Commission (NP&EDC), the Town does not comment.”

While Snell does serve the NP&EDC, she is also the town’s planning director.

But The Inquirer and Mirror reported Thursday that it had obtained a copy of the video of the executive session meeting, which was briefly posted on the town of Nantucket’s public YouTube page by mistake on Wednesday morning. According to the Inquirer and Mirror’s report, the NP&EDC voted unanimously, with Snell present, to place her on leave while the town hired an independent investigator to look into complaints against her from employees.

The Inquirer and Mirror reported that town counsel David Jenkins was present during the meeting and called the accusations against Snell “credible.”

“They raise issues concerning Ms. Snell directly. They also raise issues concerning employee relationships, and to some extent they raise questions of employee safety,” Jenkins said, according to the report. “We don't know all of the specifics. The purpose of the investigation is to find out those specifics.”

“I advised the chair and the town manager that the town has absolutely an obligation to investigate these complaints,” he said.

Towns often confirm publicly when key leaders have been placed on administrative leave. The decision to say nothing about Snell’s leave of absence is notable.