NEW PALESTINE — Dave Book was told to turn in his keys, computer and other town property, including his vehicle. Then he was told his belongings would be boxed up and brought to him.
After three-plus decades of employment with the town of New Palestine, Book was fired on Wednesday, March 18, by unanimous vote of the town council. The town manager’s dismissal took effect immediately.
The council also voted to censure Tonii Pyle, the town’s clerk-treasurer and Book’s daughter-in-law, amid a deteriorating relationship among elected officials. The council majority said Pyle had interfered with town business.
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Book’s dismissal seemed likely after a series of revelations of questionable management decisions he had made. Council member Bill Niemier cited a damning list of issues that led to the council’s vote. Niemier also made the motion to dismiss Book.
The list included unprofessional behavior; neglect of duty; failure to follow established work procedures and policies; conducting personal business while on duty; blatant disrespect of town council members and town employees; endorsing and recommending a political candidate on town property; providing false or misleading information to the town council; unauthorized use of town property, equipment and town employees; gross misconduct and gross incompetence.
Book was at the meeting and left town hall shortly after the vote. Before leaving, he answered “no” when asked by councilman Clint Bledsoe if he wanted to make a statement.
“It wouldn’t make any difference,” Book said.
For Bledsoe, who has known Book for decades, the decision to fire him wasn’t easy. But when town officials discovered Book had been running his own wastewater testing business for years — using town employees and equipment, through the town’s facility — without council knowledge, Bledsoe was left with no choice.
Town officials have since turned over documents they found on town property associated with Book’s side business to the Indiana State Police. No evidence of a crime has yet surfaced.
Angie Fahrnow, who like Niemier took office in January, was instrumental in bringing Book’s deeds to light after spending weeks poring over town records. Her oversight efforts also helped reveal that the town had missed out on hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax revenue over the years because Book had not kept the town’s inventory of streets and roads up to date.
“I’m happy that the council acted on it,” Fahrnow said. “I’m surprised at the amount of things that have been uncovered, but there is still more.”
Jim Robinson will remain in his role as the town’s acting town manager for now. He was asked to handle those duties when Book went on medical leave in January.
In addition to being the town manager, Book was also in charge of town streets and overseeing the town’s wastewater treatment plant. Town officials said they may split up those responsibilities with the next hire.
“We’ll have a discussion to determine what the future for New Palestine is and what our needs are and what that role will look like,” town council president Brandee Bastin said.
After firing Book, Niemier made another motion, one to censure Pyle, the elected clerk-treasurer who took office in January. The motion accused Pyle of directly interfering with the town’s business.
Niemier noted despite the council passing an ordinance in January making changes in a town employee’s pay for disciplinary reasons, Pyle had yet to make those changes.
She also failed, Niemier said while reading a list of grievances, to provide proper notice about an executive session involving Book even though she had the information days in advance. The censure action also said she has used town business for personal gain, then asked the town to pay for it; and created barriers surrounding the flow of paperwork and other information to the council, even though her office quickly provided documents to her father-in-law, Book.
“If Tonii Pyle were an employee of the town, I would be moving that her employment be terminated, but that is not an available option as she is an elected official,” Niemier said. Pyle ran unopposed in the 2019 election.
The council voted 3-2 to censure Pyle with Bledsoe and longtime council member Jan Jarson voting against it.
Jarson, who fought back tears when she voted in favor of firing Book, hugged Pyle following the council meeting.
“This has been a very difficult time for all of us,” Jarson said. “We have a lot going on here and nationally. It’s been tough and very emotional.”
Pyle left town hall before the Daily Reporter could speak with her. She was not in the office Thursday and could not be reached for comment.
