REHOBOTH — It’s no secret Selectman Christopher P. Morra was not pleased with actions and decisions made by the Finance Committee and Police Department.

On Monday night, the three-member Board of Selectmen, chaired by Morra, let go the two town employees criticized most by Morra — Police Chief Norman J. Miranda Jr. and Finance Committee member Gerald V. Schwall.

In a split 2-to-1 vote around midnight, the board did not extend Miranda’s contract for another year after discussing the matter for 45 minutes in closed session. Morra said Miranda’s contract expires June 30, a little more than a month from now. The chief was hired in December 2004.

And in public session, the board unanimously selected John “Jack” Sinibaldi Jr. to replace Schwall, whose term expired at or soon after this month’s four-night Annual Town Meeting. Schwall had been a member of the committee for more than a year. He also faced Morra, and was defeated, in the last two elections that attempted to recall Morra as well as a subsequent, general election against Ken Foley, who Morra publicly supported.

“The bottom line is I’m the face of recall and its political payback,” Schwall said last night. He and Miranda — who is on vacation out of state for two weeks and could not be contacted — were not present for the meeting. “I guess its okay and part of the game, I was on the losing side, but [the decision] is not in the best interest of the town because Rehoboth needs professionalism and consistency” on the Finance Committee.”

Schwall continued, “Its one thing to mess with the town’s finances, but it’s much worse to endanger public safety. That’s what I feel was done with the board’s vote [against the chief,] a guy who is well respected in police enforcement.”

Yet Morra defended his board’s decisions.

“If you look at the totality of the turmoil this town has had, change is necessary,” Morra said right before going into closed session to discuss Miranda’s contract.

While discussing Miranda yesterday, Morra said, “I think it’s clear we need change in the town.”

The chairman would not discuss what was said in closed session, but he said the department did “a lot of concerning things and conduct that was bizarre.” He said the board did not micromanage the department, but said the behavior is “reflected with the management.”

Morra said the board had many discussions with Miranda previously in closed sessions, which Morra also wouldn’t disclose.

Selectman Frederick “Skip” Vadnais — who wanted to extend the chief’s contract and voted against the decision not to — said he could not disclose his arguments for wanting the contract extended because he can’t “break confidentiality.”

While Morra disclosed his reasons to The Journal, Vadnais, a longtime selectman, said his opinion was expressed in closed session, so “You know what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” He also said wherever this decision “leaves us, I will help the town in any way that I can.”

“It’s not a dismissal, you serve at the request of the Board of Selectmen just like Gerry Schwall did,” Vadnais also said. “It is the selectmen’s perfect right, whether I like it or not, to exercise their right to appoint whoever they want to any position that is vacated by resignation or by an expired term.”

Yet he disagreed with the way Sinibaldi was appointed. Five candidates, including Sinibaldi, sent resumes expressing their interest in being on the committee. Schwall also e-mailed the selectmen to state he wished to be reappointed.

Yet only Sinibaldi was present to be interviewed.

Vadnais said all qualified should have been notified and interviewed and no one was called. The selectman said the five were all qualified with accounting backgrounds and MBA degrees in finance. Sinibaldi, a resident for three years, also had experience on the Finance Committee for Halifax, Mass. He served for seven years, including as its chairman.

Schwall said he has a similar background and knows the town’s finances well. He said he assumed he was being reappointed and didn’t come to the meeting because he “wasn’t invited,” had a “prior commitment” and knew those being reappointed traditionally do not come to the meeting unless asked.

“It was an injustice, they should have at least given a common courtesy to those who took the time” to apply, Vadnais said while dismissing Morra’s argument that it was critical to get a replacement on board soon and that the bylaw called for an appointment within 30 days.

“There’s no emergency, and last year, the board waited weeks before appointing,” Vadnais said. He said Morra “only enforces the bylaw when it suits him. And if he knew he wanted to appoint someone that night — he creates the agenda after all — why wasn’t [Town Administrator David] Marciello instructed to call the others to be there.”

Vadnais continued, “Having said all that, we picked a well-qualified and excellent candidate. My argument has nothing to do with [Sinibaldi].”

Happy with the unanimous appointment, Sinibaldi said, “Because of the turmoil in the town, I just want to bring a positive influence to the Finance Committee.”

apina@projo.com