Council committee recommends hiring for public works and economic development; vehicle and severance details to be clarified

The personnel committee recommended a resolution to hire Matthew Hopkins as Lebanon’s director of public works and discussed an employment agreement for Stephanie McPeak to lead economic development, planning and operations.

Matthew Hopkins: Committee members said Hopkins brings roughly 30 years of public-works experience in a similar role in Maryville and reported good references. The personnel report listed a starting salary in the mid-$90,000s, with a pay increase tied to obtaining a Class C license; committee members said that certification could eliminate an ongoing monthly contract with an outside testing company.

Stephanie McPeak: Committee members recommended McPeak for the economic development director role but debated parts of the draft employment agreement. Discussion focused on vehicle provisions (whether she should use an existing municipal vehicle and whether commuting is compensated) and severance language, which appears inconsistently as four months in one section and six months in another. One council member said McPeak ‘‘has been underpaid’’ and that providing a vehicle simplifies logistics for bank deposits and meeting with businesses; others asked staff to reword the agreement to remove ambiguity.

Next steps: Committee members asked staff and legal counsel to prepare revised employment agreements that clarify vehicle use, commuting compensation and severance terms before the council’s final vote. No formal roll-call vote on either final contract was recorded during this meeting; the personnel committee conveyed recommendations to the full council.