NEW GLOUCESTER — Selectmen took no action following a late-night executive session Monday to consider disciplinary action against Town Manager Sumner Field III, who is retiring Jan. 2.

Selectman Josh McHenry made the motion to enter the closed session. Chairman Steve Libby and Nat Berry IV walked out before it ended, they said Thursday.

“We were in session making progress and the discussion deviated to the performance of another employee,” Libby said. “I told the board they were breaking the law and the discussion was inappropriate.

“The discussion deviated again abruptly and I was not going to be party to breaking the law,” Libby said. “I wanted nothing to do with it. It was wrong.”

Berry said he left for the same reason.

Libby said he turned the gavel over to Vice Chairwoman Linda Chase, who said Thursday that the session ended soon afterward.

McHenry said Thursday that when he, Chase and Mark Stevens returned to open session they voted 3-0 to adjourn “because I didn’t feel right about proceeding with only three members present.”

Monday night’s executive session followed two hours of comments from more than 30 residents protesting the board’s Nov. 4 executive session. After that session the board voted 3-2 to cut the bookkeeper’s hours from 40 per week to 24 and eliminate all benefits, and to hire a finance director for six months starting Jan. 1.

Libby, Chase and Berry voted in favor of the changes; McHenry and Stevens against.

Residents said the executive session was illegal because it dealt with budgeting, not personnel. Field and the town attorney attended it. Bookkeeper Sandra Sacco did not, saying she was not told about it.