MARION — Town Administrator James McGrail announced that Ray Pickles has resigned from his position as Town Clerk, effective immediately, at a Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

In his resignation letter, dated Aug. 28, Pickles wrote that “my health is declining and I am not able to properly fulfill the obligations of the position.”

McGrail suggested that Assistant Town Clerk Elizabeth Magauran be appointed as the temporary Town Clerk, until a permanent replacement could be found, which the board approved unanimously.

Pickles is currently facing a criminal lawsuit for larceny, and a civil suit for embezzlement for allegedly stealing money from the Carver Marion Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District, of which he was the Executive Director for 45 years.

The district allows the three towns to negotiate a contract with Covanta SEMASS to dispose of waste and to operate two transfer stations.

Pickles made no reference to either of the cases against him in his resignation letter.

McGrail said that he has never met Pickles in person since he started working as Town Administrator in May, and that Magauran has been fulfilling his responsibilities in that time.

Pickles was elected as Town Clerk, but voters stripped the position of its pay and  changed it to an appointed position at the May 2019 Town Meeting. Selectmen will choose Pickles’ replacement.