Tensions Rise at Dangriga Town Council: Mayor and Administrator at Odds

Over the past week, there’s been a situation brewing at the Dangriga Town Council between Mayor Robert Mariano and Town Administrator Austin Petillo. Reports are that Petillo had moved to execute disciplinary action against a staff member at the council, but the Mayor asked him to delay the action and work it out. Petillo declined and things reportedly got worse when Mariano tried to pass a resolution to have Petillo fired. The resolution did not go through as Petillo is on a 3-year contract, and terminating him would cost the council monies they don’t have.  Petillo took to social media to air his discontent with the decision. Things further escalated this week when the Mayor reportedly ordered the council’s chief of security to lock Petillo out of the office. The voice clip, purportedly being the instructions from the Chief of Security was sent to our newsroom early this morning.

Love News reached out to Mayor Robert Mariano who confirmed that he has retained legal counsel on the matter and will not be making any comments on the issue as guided by his attorney. We’ll keep following this story.