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Residents criticize council's interim town manager selection; council members push for transparency
Summary
Multiple residents and several council members criticized the process used to appoint an interim town manager, calling for disclosure of interview lists, candidate names and meeting dates; council members asked the four participating members to publish who was interviewed and when.
Public comment at the Jan. 14 council meeting centered heavily on the council's recent replacement of the town manager and the selection of an interim town manager. Several speakers accused the majority of conducting secret interviews and bypassing normal procedures.
Stan Millon told the council it was "unethical, unprofessional, and upsetting" that the council had admitted to months of private discussions about removing the prior town manager without providing justification. Christy Morgan told the council the action had already cost the town "millions" and labeled the appointment "cronyism," saying she had submitted a FOIA request for all related communications and candidate resumes. Other commenters echoed concerns that only two people had seen the interim contract and that the position was not advertised.
Councilmember Stout said the public deserved disclosure and asked the four members who participated in interviews to immediately provide a list of interviewed candidates, dates, and which members participated. Multiple council members emphasized the importance of staff reports and full documentation before votes. The mayor and others replied that candidates who applied while campaigning are not part of a public body until sworn in, and that some items were procedurally permissible; nevertheless many council members committed to providing more information to address transparency concerns.
