NEW ULM — The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will hold a special meeting Friday to decide whether to terminate New Ulm Public Utilities Director Rod Marshall.

On Monday, Marshall was sent home from work. He was told his release was for not meeting Public Utilities standards, which he denied as “spin.”

Neither the PUC or city staff has given an official reason for Marshall’s release. City Manager Chris Dalton said no press release has been issued because Marshall is still an employee. The special PUC meeting on Friday will determine if he is released from the position.

If Marshall is terminated he will be the third New Ulm Utilities Director to leave the position in five years. Marshall took over the position on Sept. 4. The previous director, Patrick Wrase, resigned in November 2017.

Wrase served two tenures as utility director. He was initially hired in December 2013, but resigned less than a year later. Jim McCabe took over as utilities director in September 2014 and resigned a year later in October 2015.

Wrase returned as utilities director in 2016, but resigned a second time to run a land development operation.

After a nine-month search Marshall was selected as the new director.

The special PUC meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday.