In his lawsuit, Dowburd said Witmer repeatedly told him he was being fired for unsatisfactory performance.
"I know you have many talents," Witmer wrote in a March 18 memo to Dowburd, one of several that were attached to the suit. "It is very clear to me that Director of Human Resources is not one or will not be one of your talents." But Dowburd contends his firing was "unrelated to his job performance." His attorney, Richard Rogers, would not specify why Dowburd believes he was fired.
Dowburd, a former assistant dean at Harcum Junior College, also contends that he was promised his would be a professional, tenured position so he would be afforded more job protection. In a hearing last month, the school board determined he was not a professional under the school code.
The memos included with the suit suggest the superintendent and director often were at odds over Dowburd's performance. In the March 18 memo, Witmer listed his complaints against the human resources director and accused him of secretly campaigning for support among the school board members.
"Remember," Witmer wrote to Dowburd, "while you are out stabbing people in the back, the superintendent is the one who holds the final knife in reference to your position."
STATIC OVER PECO PUMP
A group of Upper Bucks County homeowners has sued Philadelphia Electric Co., contending the utility's use of the East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek has damaged their property. In the lawsuit, filed last week in county court, the homeowners each seek compensation of at least $20,000 from PECO and want the court to order the electric company to specify its plans for the creek.
Most of the property owners filing the suit live along Branch Road in Perkasie. Those are Mervin and Nancy Bryan, John and Pamela Cressman, Mark and
