Bridgewater councilor files removal resolution for town manager
MJ Spagone cites missing office logs and unpaid absence days in her bid to oust Justin Casanova-Davis ahead of a council executive session.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Town Councilor MJ Spagone filed a resolution on Thursday to remove Bridgewater Town Manager Justin Casanova-Davis from his position. The move follows a review of local records that identified gaps between the manager's office entry logs and his paid time off schedules.
Spagone stated she reached a breaking point regarding the ongoing controversy. She plans to place the resolution on the Town Council agenda later this month. Casanova-Davis earns a salary exceeding $220,000 and is entitled to five weeks of vacation per year.
A review of records from July 2025 through July 2026 found 44 days where the manager did not key into his Town Hall office and no corresponding paid time off was recorded. That total equates to almost nine work weeks. The data included 26 Fridays, representing roughly every other week.
The review also noted instances where sick time and vacation time were used on the same day. Additionally, the manager's public calendar listed him as out of office on days when no paid time off was deducted from his account.
The Town Council hired a law firm last August to conduct an independent investigation into Casanova-Davis. The firm bills $300 per hour for the work. Council President Paul Murphy said the report is expected to be complete within the next month. The council will review the findings before determining next steps.
This action follows a report from the Massachusetts Inspector General. That report concluded Casanova-Davis abused vacation time to collect a larger payout when he left his previous role as town administrator in Norfolk.
Bridgewater ended its remote work arrangements at the end of June 2026. Employees previously required documentation and approval for regular remote schedules. The town stated it does not have any responsive remote work agreements for Casanova-Davis. His contract requires him to be on duty and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Casanova-Davis has not responded to questions about the record review. He said he wanted to review the records before providing a response during an October 20 Town Council meeting. Councilors are scheduled to meet behind closed doors in executive session on Thursday night to discuss the situation.
