Subject: | Re: Thanks |
Date: | Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:02:19 -0700 |
From: | Rich Carson <richcarson@q.com> |
To: | rOB bROSTOFF <EMAIL ADDRESS CENSORED> |
CC: |
I didn't leave on short notice. My agreement with the mayor was for 4 months
to the day. My letter explains this. My plan was always to take off some
vacation and to go back to school for my doctorate at WSU. I have no issues
with Kevin Benson's land use application. He applied for the permit he
needed and Hood River County is fine with it. I will be issuing a
organizational audit regarding the city later this week as I promised the
mayor. As a professional public servant, I have no issues. I would not be
happy if my departure became the latest conspiracy theory in Cascade Locks.
----- Original Message -----
From: "rOB bROSTOFF" EMAIL ADDRESS CENSORED To: <richcarson@Q.com>Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 12:34 PM
Subject: Thanks
> Hello Rich.......
> I want to thank you for your patience in dealing with a difficult
> situation in Casade Locks. It's been trying for everyone here. Although
> I have some fundamental disagreements with the current council I think
> that for the most part they're sincere in what they do, I just disagree.
> I am curious as to why you left on such sudden notice, normally
> professional people give at least 30-90 days notice, or until a
> replacement has been found. I don't think this is the case and am would
> appreciate your sharing your reasoning, it's taken me by surprise. Did
> it have anything to do with Kevin Benson and his KOA, or were there other
> issues.
> Thank you in advance,
> Rob Brostoff
> PHONE NUMBER CENSORED
> EMAIL ADDRESS CENSORED
_____________________________________________
Subject: | Agreement Clarification |
Date: | Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:22:08 -0700 |
From: | Rich Carson <richcarson@q.com> |
To: | |
CC: |
A citizen of Cascade Locks told me I should watch the video of the City Councils last meeting. I did so and was disturbed by what I heard. For this reason, I feel it is important to clarify recent events. I sent you a letter on July 7th stating that my contract as interim city administrator was completed. My understanding with the mayor was that I would work for four months and he stated so in the Hood River News and I met all terms of the agreement.
Upon completion of the contract I returned my keys to city hall and you paid me my final check in full. I acted as a professional, given the situation, and that would have been the best way to end it. However, some members of the City Council wish to make a bad situation worse once again.
I am required to provide the city 30 days notice for a voluntary resignation. My contention is that I did not resign, I merely completed my contract. The contract also states that I attend all meetings of the City Council. I did that faithfully. However, I was ordered by the mayor to be in city hall from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday to keep an eye on the employees. That is not in the contract. I put in evening meetings with the City Council and the Budget Committee. During some weeks that came to three night meetings a week. I told Mayor Fischer, Council President Pruitt and Councilor Haight in private meeting that I was not going to work 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday and do another 6-20 hours a week in evenings. This was on the morning of July 7th and at that point I felt that they had all violated our contract.
I also had come to the conclusion that working for the city was working in an extremely hostile work environment. Two employees had resigned. The mayor and some councilors were meeting without telling other councilors. I experienced this first hand. I was being asked by citizens why I was participating in these meetings. The truth is when it happened, I was not advised that councilors would be there unannounced. Every employee in city government would say that it was a hostile work environment in front of jury of their peers. And that is only test a city attorney would consider worthy of a future action.
As a seasoned and professional government manager, I would never consider suing the municipal corporation that I worked for. However, the recent actions of members of the City Council give me grave concerns. For that reason, I have asked the firm of Jordan Ramis if they would represent and defend me -- if needed. They said yes. Understand that I have not retained them at this time.
My advice, and assume the advice of your new city attorney, is to not make things legally worse. In other words, cease and desist saying or doing anything from now on that could cost the city legal fees. The last city budget had huge legal cost overuns because the Council took actions that wasted money.
I completed the contract as written. I was also directed to do things that I considered outside of the contract, human resource laws and legal ethics. But then I am not a lawyer. I consider this matter closed. I suggest you do the same.
I am also attaching the organizational audit report that I promised the Mayor I would provide at the end of my tour of duty. And it was a tour of duty.











