Resident criticizes creation of new director posts, severance packages

Carl Lewis, a Lebanon resident who spoke during audience participation, criticized the council’s recent moves to create a director of finance and a director of economic development, arguing the city is ‘‘broke’’ and cannot afford the new positions and severance packages. "Provide big job titles, problems goes away," Lewis said, adding that a finance commission of volunteers could have provided oversight without expanding payroll.

Why it matters: Lewis urged the council to reconsider adding executive-level positions and to seek cost-saving alternatives such as a volunteer finance commission or hiring a competent accountant rather than elevating existing staff into higher-paid director roles.

Council members responded during the meeting that the idea of a finance commission had been discussed previously and that it would be difficult to find three qualified volunteer members. One council member said hiring and limited vehicle use for the economic development role were discussed in earlier open meetings and that the city could use an existing municipal vehicle rather than purchase a new one.

The public comment also flagged a severance provision in an employment contract for the economic development director; Lewis described a six-month severance as excessive in the current fiscal climate. Council discussion noted differing references in the draft documents to four- versus six-month severance, and at least one member requested clarifications and rewrites of the employment agreements before final approval.

The meeting record shows the council planned to revise contract language on vehicle use and severance and to bring updated agreements back for further consideration. The council did not take a final vote on adopting the contested severance language during this session.