Rockland Council to conduct city manager’s evaluation; hold another round with attorney about personnel
ROCKLAND — The Rockland City Council will meet behind closed doors Friday afternoon, March 4, for two separate sessions: The first, to continue talking with outside legal counsel concerning a personnel issue; the second, to address the annual evaluation of City Manager James Chaousis.
Chaousis was hired one year ago, and the annual evaluation is part of normal procedure, according to Rockland Mayor Louise McLellan-Ruf. The meeting will include his job performance review, but will not concern his employment contract.
The personnel issue that precedes the city manager evaluation entails talking with Attorney Linda McGill, who is with the Portland-based firm Burnstein Shur, and who concentrates on labor and employment law. Rockland is paying McGill $300 per hour for consultations about a personnel matter that has yet to be made public.
The five-member Rockland Council is responsible for hiring and firing three city employees — the city manager, city attorney and city clerk. All other city positions, of which there are approximately 100, fall under the purview of Chaousis.
The council agreed to hire McGill Jan. 19. After voting to hire her, they went back into executive session with her for approximately two hours to discuss what the mayor referred to, "a personnel issue."
The sessions behind closed doors follow employee investigations initiated Dec. 31 by Chaousis. The council met with him in a hastily-convened New Year's Day three-hour meeting.
The council met again with McGill in early February, with no motions made.
McLellan-Ruf said March 3 that she expected no motions to result from Friday’s executive sessions. As to when the personnel issues may be settled, she said only, “I think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
The meetings begin at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers at Rockland City Hall, 270 Pleasant Street. As required by law, the meetings begin as opened to the public before the council votes to enter executive session.
Related stories
Rockland Council engages outside counsel for help with personnel issue
Rockland Grievance Committee affirms city manager's firing of harbor master
Rockland City Manager investigates employees
Rockland City Manager fires harbor master; Glaser to appeal
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657
Event Date
Address
United States
