In a move that sent shockwaves through the small town of West Boylston, the Select Board voted 4-1 on Monday to terminate Town Administrator James Ryan’s contract. The decision came after a heated controversy over a Trump flag displayed in the police station gym—a dispute that quickly escalated into a town-wide spectacle.
The Flag That Sparked a Firestorm
The drama began just weeks into Ryan’s tenure, which started on January 21. While touring the police station, he reportedly noticed a Trump flag hanging in the gym and requested its removal. That request ignited a chain reaction that would ultimately cost him his job.
West Boylston Police Chief Dennis Minnich, a 32-year veteran of the 13-officer department, refused to let the issue slide. Feeling the order was unjustified, he put himself on leave in mid-February, making it clear he wouldn’t return to work unless Ryan was removed. “I told the town board that I will not be back until either he’s gone or you get rid of me,” Minnich said in an interview. “And if you get rid of me, I’m not going quiet, and you’re paying.”
A Controversy That Took Over the Town
Ryan’s stance was that political signs, no matter their affiliation, had no place in public buildings. He even went as far as to call the flag’s presence a potential civil rights violation. Minnich initially complied and removed the flag, but when photos later surfaced showing flags back in the station, Ryan confronted the chief again—further deepening the divide between the two.
Meanwhile, the town’s police union took a vote of no confidence in Ryan by the end of February, signaling that his support among law enforcement was all but gone. With mounting public and political pressure, it was clear that Ryan’s days in office were numbered.
The Select Board’s Decision
On Monday night, the Select Board held a meeting—originally planned to be private but later opened to the public via Zoom—to decide Ryan’s fate. With a 4-1 vote, they chose to terminate his contract, with member Vanessa Kuzmanovski being the lone dissenting vote.
Following the decision, Ryan’s attorney, John Clifford, expressed disappointment but not surprise. “James acknowledges that he could have handled the situation differently, but his insistence that there be no political signs in a public building was completely justified,” Clifford said. “In tonight’s meeting, James expressed his sincere regret that he had any role in what became an embarrassment and distraction for the entire town.”
Clifford also placed the blame on Chief Minnich, stating that the police chief had stirred up controversy “in the press and on social media.” He went on to accuse the Select Board of simply giving in to Minnich’s demands. “The Select Board simply acquiesced to Chief Minnich’s demand that James be fired and made it clear that the Chief will be able to enforce the law as he sees fit going forward.”
A Town Left Divided
Minnich, however, stood by his actions, arguing that a flag representing a sitting U.S. president should not be a source of contention. “I did not see any harm or lawful violation to hang a flag of the sitting President of the United States,” he said. His defiance and willingness to walk away from his position over the issue ultimately tipped the scales in his favor.
This incident has left West Boylston divided. Some see Ryan’s removal as necessary to maintain harmony in the town, while others believe it sets a troubling precedent where political pressure outweighs policy enforcement. One thing is certain—this small Worcester County town won’t forget this controversy anytime soon.
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