PLAINFIELD — In a decision that left residents with more questions than answers, the chairman of the town’s Selectboard unexpectedly submitted his resignation earlier this month, stating that he could no longer continue in the job for ethical reasons, though he did not make it clear why.

In a statement notable for its opacity, Plainfield Selectboard Chairman Eric Brann explained he had reached “a difficult crossroads” where he has been “forced to choose, at no fault of my own, between compromising my personal convictions on ethics, morals, and principles or resign in order for the board to maintain a focused approach in the governing of our town,” according to Brann’s resignation letter submitted to the Selectboard.

The letter, presented during a regular meeting on June 19, was not immediately accepted by the other two board members and instead will be taken up at the next regular meeting on July 17; the Selectboard “has been working through a complex personnel matter, and that work is ongoing,” the minutes of the June 19 meeting report without elaborating.

Reached by phone, Brann declined to discuss the specifics behind his resignation. He and other Plainfield officials referred all questions to Plainfield’s town counsel, Lebanon attorney Barry Schuster.

In an interview, Schuster said, “Eric Brann is a very good selectperson and his letter speaks for itself,” adding, “Eric is incredibly principled and if the board accepts his resignation, he will be sorely missed.” Schuster declined further comment.

But according to people familiar with the situation who did not want to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the matter, the issue alluded to in Brann’s resignation letter was a rupture in his relationship with Plainfield Police Chief Anthony Swett over a personal relationship that Swett had formed with another town employee.

According to the people familiar with the matter, Brann had been informed about the relationship by a person he deemed credible. Brann then twice asked Swett, who is married, whether he was romantically involved with another town employee, and Swett denied it both times.

In Plainfield, municipal employees — including the police chief — report directly to the Selectboard.

Those knowledgeable with the situation said Brann, a retired state trooper, felt Swett’s alleged lack of candor was a betrayal of both their longtime professional association and personal friendship, and that Swett’s conduct had undermined the chief’s ability to effectively police the community.

However, when Brann objected to Swett’s behavior, town officials determined that the relationship between Swett and the other employee — who no longer works for the town — did not run afoul of the town’s personnel policy and was not subject to disciplinary action, according to people familiar with the situation. The police chief and the other employee had not worked in the same department and neither were in each other’s line of report.

Swett did not respond to messages for comment but an attorney representing him did contact the Valley News.

“There has been no allegation, none, zero, that Chief Swett has violated any policy, procedure, or state law,” said Carolyn Cole, a Lebanon attorney. She said that Swett has not been asked officially to resign. “The origin (of the resignation letter) comes from the fact that Eric Brann could not separate his office as selectman from his personal friendship (with Swett), which was a blatant conflict of interest from which (Brann) should have recused himself well before now.”

She said “the trust broke down between them both for different reasons that are (not public business) and has nothing to do with the town. But Brann has chosen to air his private jealousies and conjectures publicly simply to diminish the Chief in the eyes of the town, making all sorts of unfounded accusations based on hearsay,” Cole said.

She termed it “a personal spat between one guy and another. But the role of a selectman is not to be a rumor-monger.”

“Chief Swett has been dedicated to the safety and well-being of the Plainfield community,” Cole said. “That commitment remains unaffected by idle gossip.”

Brann, a 1986 graduate of Lebanon High School, was described by those who know him as a by-the-book former U.S. Marine who championed Swett, previously a police officer in Lyme, to succeed retiring Plainfield Police Chief Paul Roberts in 2021. Beyond their professional relationship, the two had been friends, the people with knowledge of the situation said.

The police chief position pays about $90,000 annually, according to Plainfield’s 2023 Town Report.

In his resignation letter, Brann said he is torn by his decision to step down because it leaves him “feeling that I have abandoned my fellow selectmen.” He saluted his Selectboard colleagues, Amy Lappin and Ron Eberhart, who he emphasized “have honor and integrity that is second to none. They will continue to objectively carry out their duties. I have no doubt that they, along with my interim replacement, will serve the town well.”

Contact John Lippman at jlippman@vnews.com.