The Council's July 14 statement explains Attorney Jennifer Dixon's findings. It says nothing about concerns eight department heads raised over how the investigation itself was run.

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On July 14, the Mansfield Town Council announced that Attorney Jennifer Dixon again found Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth did not violate any laws or Town policies. The Council also said it is now "working on the timing and mechanics" of his return to office.

In the same statement, the Council said it plans to appoint an outside Acting Town Manager at a special meeting this week.

The Town Council's July 14 statement answered one question. It raised several others.

What does the Council mean by the "timing and mechanics" of the Town Manager's return? If Mr. Aylesworth is returning to his position, why is the Town simultaneously appointing an outside Acting Town Manager? The Council's statement does not say.

It also says nothing about a June 13, 2026 letter, obtained through the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, in which eight Mansfield department heads raised concerns about how the investigation was being managed.

"The Council answered one question and raised several more," said Aaron Bowman, Chairman of the Mansfield Republican Town Committee. "The Council says it's 'working on the timing and mechanics' of Mr. Aylesworth's return. Every resident reading that statement has the same question. What does that mean?"

The June 13 letter, signed by Jaime Russell, Sara-Ann Chaine, Jennifer Kaufman, Amanda L. Backhaus, Jessica St. Louis, Mark Kiefer, John Roache, and Michael E. Ninteau, does not address the allegations against Mr. Aylesworth. It asks the Council to fix how the investigation itself was run.

According to the letter, department heads asked investigators to:

• Apply the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Code of Ethics, the Town of Mansfield Code of Ethics, and the Town's Administrative and Personnel Policies.
• Interview every employee who reported concerns or witnessed relevant conduct.
• Brief the full Town Council, verbally or in writing, at least every two weeks, so every member stayed informed throughout the investigation.

The letter also raises concerns about:

• The lack of written documentation defining the terms of Mr. Aylesworth's voluntary paid administrative leave.
• The Town's failure to collect his Town Hall keys and Town-issued cell phone during that leave, and the reported use of those keys to access Town Hall on May 26.
• Changes to the Town's administrative chain of command during the investigation.
• Staff being directed to halt contract negotiations with the firefighters' union, which the letter says risks violating labor law.
• Staff's belief that Mr. Aylesworth was communicating directives to employees through members of the Council while on leave.

The Council's July 14 statement addresses none of it.

"These concerns didn't come from political opponents," Bowman said. "They came from the people who run Town government every day. When your own department heads raise concerns about how an investigation is handled, residents deserve to know what happened next."

The Mansfield Republican Town Committee believes residents deserve answers to several straightforward questions:

• When did the full Town Council receive the June 13 department heads' letter?
• What action did the Council take after receiving it?
• Were the recommendations in the letter adopted, modified, or rejected?
• What does the Council mean by the "timing and mechanics" of the Town Manager's return?
• If Mr. Aylesworth is returning to his position, why is an outside Acting Town Manager necessary?

"This has become a matter of governance, not just personnel," Bowman said. "The Council can't ask residents to trust a process it won't explain."

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