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Mosier council votes to terminate city manager after finding unauthorized transactions
Summary
The Mosier City Council voted Dec. 18, 2024, to terminate City Manager Jayme Bennett effective immediately after concluding there were multiple unauthorized transactions from 2019—2024; the termination letter will be drafted in consultation with the citys insurer, and the council recorded the vote as unanimous in the transcript.
The Mosier City Council voted Dec. 18, 2024, to terminate City Manager Jayme Bennett effective immediately after the city said it identified multiple unauthorized transactions spanning 2019—2024 and received no documentation from Bennett to justify those charges.
City Attorney Sarah Westmeyer opened the hearing by saying it was convened under Oregon law to consider dismissal or disciplining of an officer who requested an open hearing. Westmeyer told the Council the city placed Bennett on paid administrative leave in October 2024 and later discovered a significant number of separate transactions the city considers unauthorized; the city sought documentation verifying the expenses as city business and received no response, according to the attorney's summary reported in the meeting record.
Public commenter Teunis Wyers defended Bennett at the hearing, arguing that several disputed expenditures were reimbursable, arose from an autopay issue, or related to COVID-response activities and bookkeeping errors. Wyers also raised concerns about Bennetts health and urged insurers' counsel be used for personnel matters. The city noted the hearing provided a final opportunity for Bennett to supply records; the transcript does not record any responsive documentation being submitted at the meeting.
After returning from executive session, Mayor Anderson moved to terminate Bennett and directed the city attorney to draft the termination letter in consultation with the city insurer; Councilor Wright seconded. The transcript records the motion as adopted with all in favor; no roll-call vote or individual tallies are recorded in the minutes. Council members expressed regret and said shortcomings in bookkeeping and documentation contributed to the decision.
The termination is effective immediately as stated in the motion and subject to drafting of the termination letter with insurer input. The Council also directed that relevant executive-session minutes be prepared by the city attorney. The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
What happens next: the city attorney is to draft the written termination letter in consultation with the city's insurer and provide minutes of the executive sessions as indicated in the record.
