Donaghue, reached Wednesday, said, "In fairness to Held, I am recommending no information be released to the newspapers. Recommendations were made and orders were given. Until certain individuals have made up their mind, I will have no comment."
Held's attorney, Arthur Donato, said, "My position is that it is inappropriate to discuss anything that goes on in executive session regarding personnel matters. I can assure you," Donato said, "that if the decision is unfair, we'll take every step to rectify the situation."
Held was accused by four Planning Commission members of having been intoxicated when he participated in a meeting on Feb. 22. The four made the allegation in a letter to the Board of Commissioners in early March. The letter was signed by chairman Jerry Sacchetti and members Joseph W. O'Neil, Harold Hannold Jr., and James Hull.
On Tuesday the Board of Commissioners met in executive session after their public meeting. Bannar said he and the commissioners discussed Held's case during that private session. "But I was responsible for the decision," Bannar said.
But Donaghue said Bannar would not have made a decision involving a township department head without "its being condoned by the Board of Commissioners."
Bannar said that throughout the investigation of the allegations against Held, he had followed the township's personnel regulations regarding substance abuse, although he declined to specific what provisions of the personnel policies have been invoked in Held's case.
Under the township's substance-abuse policy, an employee may be automatically suspended for three days if it determined that he or she was working while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The employee must also participate in the substance-abuse program at Haverford Community Hospital. If the employee refuses to participate in the hospital's rehabilitation program, he or she can be fired.
Since the accusations were first made against him, Held has continued his duties as director of the Department of Codes Enforcement, including attending meetings of the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board, inspecting construction sites, and meeting with developers.
On Tuesday, as he usually does, Held attended the meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Shortly before the commissioners gave final approval to a plan to construct 14 houses on a 14.5-acre property near Darby and Radnor Roads, Held explained the plan and answered several questions put to him by the commissioners.
