A high-ranking Massachusetts town official kept her six-figure government salary after crashing her vehicle while intoxicated, sparking outrage among taxpayers when local commissioners unanimously voted to renew her contract despite the criminal case.
Crash Scene and Arrest Details
Planning Director Leslie Woodson Snell, 47, crashed her Jeep SUV into a street sign near a Yarmouth restaurant on April 20. Police bodycam footage shows a bystander reporting the driver appeared confused and disoriented. Yarmouth Police Officer Samantha Voltolini documented glassy, bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on Snell’s breath. Officers discovered an open vodka bottle in the backseat, alcohol nips in her purse, and several open White Claw cans throughout the vehicle’s interior.
When questioned about her alcohol consumption at the adjacent restaurant, Snell slurred through her responses, claiming she had only consumed a couple of drinks. The officer noted difficulty obtaining information because Snell spoke incoherently and struggled to recall her own address. She failed multiple field sobriety tests and refused a breathalyzer examination at the police station.
Minimal Consequences and Contract Renewal
Snell reached a plea agreement one week after her April 21 arraignment. The deal required her to surrender her driver’s license for 45 days, complete an alcohol education program, and pay $600 in court fees. In June, she issued a statement accepting responsibility and confirming the matter had been resolved. Despite the criminal case, the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission voted unanimously in late June to renew her employment contract.
Officials initially claimed Snell would not receive a salary increase. However, her new contract reportedly includes a one-time payment of $7,829 added to her $195,520 base salary, representing a four percent raise to approximately $203,000 annually. Snell has worked for the commission for two decades.
History of Workplace Controversies
The contract renewal reignited existing concerns about Snell’s position. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office previously ruled the commission violated the state’s Open Meeting Law during her hiring process. Former Nantucket building inspector Stephen Butler alleged he faced threats of disciplinary action and was forced out in 2018 after questioning Snell’s procedures. His wife Karla accused Snell in an open letter of creating a toxic work environment and improperly interfering with permit decisions to benefit certain applicants. Snell has denied all allegations of favoritism and abuse of power.