BROOKFIELD HR OFFICIAL RESIGNS AFTER ALLEGED COMMENT BY INTERIM TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
BROOKFIELD — A female Human Resources official for the Town of Brookfield has resigned following an alleged inappropriate remark made by the Interim Town Administrator during their first interaction, according to a resignation letter obtained by the Brookfield Examiner.
In the letter, the employee states that upon arriving at Town Hall on Feb. 2, 2026, she was introduced to Interim Town Administrator Robert Ayers. Within minutes of that introduction, she alleges Ayers made a comment that left her “shocked and offended.”
“I’m sorry I stole your office, but you can sit in my lap for a bit if you’d like.”
According to the resignation letter, she immediately responded “No,” and another town employee present at the time stated words to the effect of:
“You can’t say that. Saying things like that is going to get you in trouble.”
The employee emphasized the timing and impact of the interaction, writing:
“These statements were made within the first five minutes of me meeting Robert. I was shocked and offended at his statement because of his blatant lack of professionalism and the fact that he is roughly three times my age. It made me extremely uncomfortable and raises concerns about the workplace culture I would be operating in as his subordinate.”
The employee, who served in a Human Resources role responsible for workplace compliance and personnel matters, stated that this interaction—along with other factors—led to her decision to resign, effective Feb. 28, 2026.
Her departure appears to be part of a broader pattern of turnover within Town Hall and may represent the 67th employee to leave Town employment in recent years, according to records reviewed by the Brookfield Examiner.
Conflict With Town Policy
The Town of Brookfield maintains a Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy that prohibits verbal conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile or offensive work environment.
The policy states that sexual harassment “will not be tolerated” and requires that complaints be addressed through a prompt and fair investigation, with corrective action taken where appropriate.
Executive Session Lasted Less Than Six Minutes
Following the resignation, the Select Board entered executive session to address the matter. According to available information, that session lasted less than six minutes before returning to open session.
It remains unclear whether a formal investigation was conducted, whether the employee was interviewed, or whether any findings or disciplinary action were issued. No detailed public statement has been released by the Town.
Part of a Broader Pattern
This incident comes amid ongoing concerns about turnover and workplace conditions at Brookfield Town Hall. In prior reporting, questions have been raised about employee retention, workplace treatment, and whether Town leadership has done enough to protect employees and maintain a professional working environment.
The resignation of the Town’s Human Resources official—the very position responsible for enforcing workplace policies—may add to those concerns.
Request for Comment
The Brookfield Examiner made multiple attempts to contact Interim Town Administrator Robert Ayers for comment on the allegations outlined in this report. As of publication, no response was received.
Requests for comment were also sent to the Chair of the Brookfield Select Board regarding the Town’s handling of the matter and whether a formal investigation was conducted. As of publication, no responses were received.
Key Question: Was Policy Followed?
The situation raises a central question: Did the Town follow its own sexual harassment policy?
The Town’s policy states that sexual harassment “will not be tolerated” and requires a prompt investigation. In this case, the employee responsible for enforcing that policy is no longer with the Town, no investigation findings have been publicly released, and no leave or disciplinary action involving the Interim Town Administrator has been announced.
Editorial Note
The Brookfield Examiner has chosen to withhold the name of the employee referenced in this report due to the sensitive nature of the allegation and out of respect for her privacy.