SOUTH HADLEY — The longtime manager of the South Hadley Electric Light Department claims the utility failed to renew his contract because of age discrimination. Meantime, the state inspector general’s office is investigating the utility’s operations.
Wayne Doerpholz earlier this spring lodged a complaint against the municipal light board through the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
Anne Awad, the chairwoman of the SHELD commission, said Wednesday her board is preparing a written response denying that age played a role in its decision.
Attempts to reach Doerpholz for comment were unsuccessful. His contract expires at the end of May.
H. Alex Harrison, a spokesman for MCAD, said the complaint was filed March 28. He said because of the number of complaints his agency receives it takes up to two years to complete investigations.
In the meantime, he said, MCAD offers the parties mediation services, should they choose to accept them.
Doerpholz began working for the municipal utility as a 15-year-old around 1970, sweeping floors and reading meters, working his way up to manager 33 years ago. He was placed on paid administrative leave last October after Robert Blasko Jr., an electrician for SHELD, filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit alleging that engineer Andrew Orr created an unsafe work environment by bullying and at times assaulting employees.
Doerpholz was named in that suit for allegedly failing to provide adequate supervision and for allegedly retaliating against Blasko for complaining about his treatment.
The board’s decision not to renew Doerpholz’s contract, with an annual salary of $144,000, comes at a time when lawyers are exploring whether the terms of that contract require SHELD to pay him $476,580 in accrued vacation, sick leave and personal time when he departs.
Awad said this week that the board’s attorneys are studying that question and that the board will soon take a position on what it owes Doerpholz.
Awad also revealed Wednesday that the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General is investigating SHELD and has asked to see financial documents, which the utility has provided.
Jack Meyers, a spokesman for the inspector general’s office, said Wednesday the department does not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation unless it is complete and results in a public action.
The SHELD board of commissioners voted at its April 21 meeting to seek proposals from consulting firms to help with a search for a new general manager. Awad said she hopes to have someone in that position by the fall.
Awad, in her capacity as chairwoman of the commission that oversees SHELD’s operations, had been serving as acting manager in Doerpholz’s absence. She announced earlier this month that her board, in executive session, named two SHELD employees as co-interim managers until a permanent replacement for Doerpholz is found.
They are Paul Byrne, the business manager, and Edward Morrin, the supervising foreman of operations.
The commissioners will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Town Hall .
Eric Goldscheider can be reached at eric.goldscheider@gmail.com.