Montpelier City Manager Candidate Faces $5 Million Lawsuit

## Montpelier city Manager Candidate Faces $5 Million Lawsuit

This story by Carly Ocasso was first published in The Bridge on dec. 4, 2025.

One of the three finalists to become Montpelier’s next city manager is facing a $5 million lawsuit stemming from a decision he made at his current job.

After hours of interviews and some procedural controversy, Montpelier’s City Council chose three finalists on Wednesday to replace former City Manager Bill Fraser: Pinole, CA City Manager Kelcey Young, Pitkin County, CO Commissioner Kelly McNicolas Kury, and Woodstock, VT Municipal Manager Eric Duffy.

Though, Duffy is also one of the defendants in an active lawsuit filed in April by Woodstock Police Chief Joseph Swanson after Duffy demoted him. Duffy had placed Swanson on paid leave in October 2024, two days after a traffic incident involving a confrontation between Swanson’s husband and another driver, according to the Vermont Standard.

In November, an “independent investigation by the Vermont State Police persistent that no charges could be filed against either driver,” according to the Standard. The demotion was reversed by the court in december. But Duffy did not drop the matter and hired a private detective on Oct. 25 to investigate unnamed complaints against Swanson, according to the Standard.

Swanson responded in kind with a lawsuit against Duffy, the village trustees, Burgess Loss Prevention (the private investigator), the Town of Woodstock and the village of Woodstock. The lawsuit claimed Duffy and the other defendants had acted unlawfully, maliciously, improperly and without cause, which damaged his reputation, according to court documents.

Still, Duffy told The Bridge his decision was warranted following a 14 hour hearing where the matter was discussed publicly.  “I am always going to do what I think is right and in the best interest of my staff, my community and the municipality, and if needed, hold people accountable for their actions or lack thereof,” Duffy said on on Thursday. “we believe he was unable to perform his duties as chief,” citing two no confidence votes – one from the police union and one from the dispatch union in November of 2024.

In vermont, it is indeed required to show proof  of “cause” to  remove a police chief from office, according to court documents. Village Trustees had unanimously supported Duffy’s decision to demote Swanson, but the court decision on Dec. 2 asserted the trustees did not show evidence of “cause” to do so.

The village reasoned that a ‘for cause’ determination was not necessary because demotion was not equivalent to terminating employment. The court disagreed, stating that a demotion effectively removes one from office.

Duffy said that as a candidate for city manager…

Infant COVID-19 Vaccinations Now Available in Vermont

U.S.health officials have opened COVID-19 vaccines for infants, toddlers and preschoolers – the last group without the shots. The move comes after a lengthy review process and is expected to provide significant protection for the youngest members of the population.

As of Tuesday, June 21, 2022, vaccinations were being administered in locations like Salt Lake City, Utah, where Michael Rupp held his 16-month-old daughter, lennox, as she received the Moderna vaccine. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

State Panel Permanently Bans Ex-Deputy Sheriff From Police Work Following Road Rage Conviction

Published December 5, 2024 at 11:29 am

A former Orange County deputy sheriff is permanently barred from working in law enforcement in Vermont, following a unanimous decision by the vermont Criminal Justice Council on Wednesday. The decision stems from Deputy Sheriff Matthew Kinney’s conviction for reckless endangerment related to a 2022 road rage incident.

Kinney,who was terminated from the orange County Sheriff’s Department in August 2022,pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in October 2023. Court documents detailed an incident where Kinney allegedly followed another driver, brandished a firearm, and attempted to run the vehicle off the road during a dispute on Interstate 89.

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council, responsible for maintaining standards and decertifying officers who have committed serious offenses, reviewed the case and determined Kinney’s actions were a significant breach of public trust.

“The council found that Mr. Kinney’s conduct demonstrated a pattern of behavior that is incompatible with the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer,” said sarah George, State’s Attorney for Chittenden County and a member of the council, in a statement following the hearing. “His actions not only endangered the public but also undermined the integrity of the profession.”

The decertification means Kinney can no longer be employed as a police officer, game warden, or other law enforcement role in Vermont. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department cooperated fully with the investigation and the council’s proceedings.

This case highlights the increasing scrutiny of law enforcement conduct and the commitment to upholding ethical standards within Vermont’s criminal justice system.