Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Citizens were left with more questions than answers, following Monday night’s decision by City Council to continue their goal of recruiting a new city manager. Problems that led to Council’s decision a year ago to renew City Manager Tom Steven’s contract for only a year remained undefined during Monday’s session, with members insistent that protocol was followed and that Stevens was instructed to use the past year to seek other employment, with the understanding that Council would move forward with the search for a new manager by October 2009.
What was listed on the evening’s agenda as a “discussion” on the process of recruitment of a new city manager quickly turned into a heated debate between councilors, citizens and Stevens’ attorney, Norman Trask. Trask’s request that the public be allowed to comment before any decision was made, was met by Council Chair Ed Nickerson’s response that such matters were “not normally handled that way” and that the discussion on beginning a search for a new city manager was “a carryover from past meetings.”
Nickerson avoided giving a direct answer to the question of why Stevens’ contract was not being considered for renewal.
“As Council, we know the reasons,” said Nickerson.
Trask pressed for Council to allow public comment, with councilors reluctantly agreeing. Nickerson said, “If allowed, each would be given five minutes” and that comments would be restricted to “something new we hadn’t heard before.”
“We’re here requesting the city manager be granted a new contract,” said Trask, noting the process has put Stevens under a great deal of stress over the past year and a half and were brought about as the result of Council’s “actions and inactions.”
Trask said the Council had indicated they wanted the city to go in a new direction, “but those new directions and change have never been spelled out.”
“The city, contrary to Council’s opinion, is changing under Tom’s direction,” said Trask, highlighting some of the many projects that have come to fruition during Stevens’ tenure as city manager. Trask spoke of the economic development that has occurred in the city during Stevens’ 17 years in office, some of the latest of which include the construction of the Hampton Inn, NorState Federal Credit Union and the nearly-completed Tractor Supply Company facility. Trask also referenced several awards the city and city manager had received over the years and that city departments have undergone improvements as well.
“Changes have been made in various departments. You can now register vehicles online, the library offers Internet access, the fire department has made multiple changes including hazmat training, police have increased security since 9-11. The same goes for all departments. Public Works now has a new facility, Solid Waste has made improvements,” said Trask. “A laundry list of things have happened under Tom’s watch and there’s no reason to not extend his contract.”
Trask said all departments have effected change and moved forward and that the city manager has overseen these changes.
“That’s his job and that’s what he’s doing,” Trask said.
“Before you decide something that you’ve given no rationale behind — Council has run on the basis of allowing public participation, but what you’re saying is ‘shut up, sit down and go home,’” Trask continued.
Councilor Jennifer Trombley said it wasn’t about “what Tom did right or wrong.”
“This is a Council decision,” said Trombley.
One of the only times Stevens spoke was to point out that past Council Chair Walt Elish and Nickerson had been supportive of public comment at past meetings and should continue to do so.
“Both Walt and Ed have said all matters are allowed to come forward, for public comment,” said Stevens.
“I’m well aware of what’s happened in the city in the last 10 years. What I’m asking is is there something new we’re missing, otherwise, we’re beating the same thing around,” said Nickerson.
“What we’re asking tonight is that the city manager be granted a new two-year contract. These are important times for the city. He knows the budget better than anyone,” said Trask, requesting Council agree to a two-year contract in 2010, with no pay increase.
“The city would have nothing to lose by accepting this contract but has everything to gain by accepting the proposal,” Trask said.
Charlie Beck, a citizen of Presque Isle, spoke next, expressing concern over the lack of information available as to how the Council made its decision to not renew Stevens’ contract.
“As I came up these stairs to the meeting to collect information, I wasn’t angry. But opening remarks have gotten my blood boiling,” said Beck.
Beck said he’d signed ballots to get each councilor’s name on the ballot and that he’d voted for each one, with the belief they’d “make the best decision for the city.”
“You’re hiding behind executive session. But as a citizen who voted for you, it scares me that you now want to hide behind your decision. You must have had good reason why, but I don’t know that. You’ve kept it under wraps and done a great job of it. Boom, now you want to make a change,” said Beck.
Beck said it was the citizens who elected councilors and the citizens could remove them from the Council just as easily.
“We can have a recall vote — it takes 704 names to recall each or all of you. There are citizens out there who are out to understand your decision making. If Tom shouldn’t be city manager, they should know the reason,” said Beck.
“I’m not hiding behind executive session. I don’t want to put the city in a position of a lawsuit,” responded Trombley.
When Beck suggested Council seek counsel, Councilman Ron McPherson said they’d done that.
“Instead, you’re stonewalling the public,” said Beck.
Nickerson said Stevens has known the Council’s decision for 15 months and that the Council, on Stevens’ behalf, had decided “not to say anything to John Q. Public and the state of Maine — to not say he wouldn’t be manager in 2010,” adding he had a statement that would clarify the matter.
Councilor Don Gardner said the matter had been “ongoing.”
“Tom’s had many evaluations — some good, some bad. Nothing was hidden. It’s a matter of public record. Any vote we take has to be in public session,” said Gardner.
Patti Crooks, manager of the Aroostook Centre Mall and a citizen of Presque Isle, stepped forward to speak next, requesting Nickerson read his statement before she made her comments.
Nickerson’s statement acknowledged Stevens’ “many years as manager of the city” and his “significant contributions to the city,” all of which were recognized and appreciated by Council.
“However, change is necessary to move into the 21st century,” said Nickerson.
According to the statement, Nickerson said Council had requested Stevens initiate innovative ideas for the future during the past three years, but that Stevens “kept us at the status quo.”
“Council came to the conclusion that his resistance to change” left them with no choice. “A change in leadership was necessary,” Nickerson said, noting he knew of no other employer who would give an employee 15 months’ notice.
Crooks said anyone with 17 years’ tenure should at least be allowed counsel.
“At the bare minimum, it’s the right thing to do. We (as taxpayers) have a lot of money invested in Tom and the direction the city’s going in. I don’t see the direction the city’s going in is that back woods. We live in a bureaucratic society, not autocratic. You govern as a group; you represent me. Had someone asked me what I thought of Tom’s work efforts, I would have said extremely well,” said Crooks, adding she’d worked with Stevens to get Lowe’s to come to Presque Isle.
“Collectively, you are an incredible force, but the body language is reflective of the inflexibility you show,” said Crooks.
Crooks said the Council’s decision to replace Stevens showed their “shortsightedness.”
“I realize it was a private session (personnel matters are discussed during executive session). An issue of impropriety would have been all over the news. So what’s the issue here?” asked Crooks.
Stevens said he had signed a contract but did so “under duress at the time.”
“As part of the side contract, if you will, the Council said they ‘may’ start looking and advertising. I was surprised the Council has already taken steps — actions of one or two councilors have expedited the progress,” said Stevens.
Several other citizens had their say on the matter, then Trask returned to the podium.
“You’ve heard from citizens, businesspeople. UMPI did a survey a short time ago which demonstrated citizens are satisfied with the services rendered by the city of Presque Isle. They’ve been extremely positive of Mr. Stevens and the direction he’s leading the city,” said Trask.
Crooks followed, offering a candidate’s resume for the position — later identified as Stevens’ resume.
“He holds a master’s degree in public administration from UMPI, a BA in public management from UMO. These are pretty strong qualifications for someone you’re tossing out on his ear. I’d like to submit his resume,” said Crooks, as she presented copies to each of the councilors.
Beck said Nickerson’s statement “intrigued me but didn’t provide me with enough information,” adding he hoped Council would table their actions and “consider additional information so we (citizens) feel comfortable in joining you in your decision.”
Nickerson said in asking for all the reasons, sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.
“Maybe it was incorrect to keep dirty laundry in-house, rather than out every Monday. We’ve elected to take this route at Tom’s request. We haven’t done anything underhanded or without forethought,” said Nickerson. “We tried to keep this as clean as possible. Apparently it’s turned around, as if we’re on trial and we’re threatened with a recall.”
“You’ve put yourself in that position,” said Beck.
“Yes we did, by keeping it under our hats,” Nickerson responded.
McPherson said Council had gone out of its way to “make this as smooth as possible to protect Tom’s integrity, so that down the road he could announce he was moving to greener pastures. We’ve done a great job in keeping the scuttlebutt out around very neat and clean so it wouldn’t hurt Tom in any way, shape or form.”
McPherson said Council took lots of time and did a lot of soul searching.
“At least I did. We had a meeting as Ed said, right here, right in a circle. Tom presented what he’d like us to think about. He signed both documents. A contract is a contract,” said McPherson.
Beck said he couldn’t imagine Stevens and his attorney would be fighting the decision, if Council had something that would embarrass Stevens.
“If you have an explanation, we as citizens have a right to know,” said Beck.
Nickerson said Council wasn’t getting into a legal battle.
Trask said there was no “smoking gun” and that Stevens had done “nothing inappropriate.”
“You may have a difference of opinion. But to suggest he’s done something and we want to protect him, that’s a bold-faced lie. To say a contract is a contract — a contract is something agreed to by both sides. That’s not the case here,” said Trask. “There’s no dirty laundry here and I strongly resent anyone that would suggest that.”
Nickerson said he thought the city’s charter clearly states Council has a right to hire and fire city managers with or without cause.
“You (Beck) made a comment. You can do it if you want, to have each of us recalled and start with a new slate. You can clearly do that if you think we’ve gone off the deep end,” said Nickerson. “I don’t appreciate the threats.”
Nickerson said Council’s decision was made as a body to recruit a new manger.
“If citizens want to recall us, you might have a hard time finding someone to replace us. That would only compound problems in the end,” said Nickerson.
With that, Council voted 6-1, with McPherson voting in opposition, in favor of beginning the recruitment process to find a new city manager.
