Town of East Hampton
Town Council Special Meeting
Friday, September 10, 2010
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room – Town Hall
Minutes
Present: Chairperson Melissa Engel, Vice Chairman John Tuttle and Council Members William Devine, Christopher Goff, and Barbara Moore. Also present were Recording Secretary Cathy Sirois, members of the press and citizens.
Council Member Thomas Cordeiro was present via speakerphone.
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: Chairperson Engel called the special meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room.
A moment of silence was observed for State Trooper Kenneth Hall.
Executive Session: Discussion concerning the employment and possible separation of a management-level Town employee and Discussion concerning the appointment and employment terms of an interim replacement for a management-level Town employee
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Devine, to enter Executive Session at 11:05 a.m. Voted (7-0).
The Council members listed above and Mr. Cordeiro (via speakerphone) were present in Executive Session.
The Council exited Executive Session at 12:05 p.m.
Vote to approve a separation package and the authorization for Council Chair to execute said package on behalf of the Town for a management-level Town employee:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Devine, to approve a separation package and the authorization for the Council Chair to execute said package for Town Manager Jeffery O’Keefe Voted (6-1) Ms. Weintraub against.
The total dollar amount of the separation package is approximately $170,000. $123,600 in wages through August 31, 2011 and $46,000 in unused sick and vacation pay.
Ms. Weintraub noted her concerns on the dollar amount being paid out.
Mr. Tuttle was also uncomfortable with the dollar amount but noted it was a contractual settlement.
Vote to approve interim replacement and salary for management-level Town employee:
A motion was made by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Devine, to approve Robert Drewry as the Interim Town Manager with a salary of $25 per hour plus medical benefits after January 1, 2011 and for one year after his departure date. Voted (6-1) Ms. Weintraub against.
Prior to the vote, Ms. Weintraub commented that she didn’t agree with the choice of Robert Drewry and noted a retired town manager should be put in place while a search for the new town manager is underway.
Vote to approve Attorney Jane Marsh of Marsh & Bouregy, LLC of Deep River to review the language for proposed Town Ordinance #109:
A motion was made by Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Ms. Moore, to approve Attorney Jane Marsh of Marsh & Bouregy, LLC to review the language for proposed Town Ordinance #109 for a billable rate of $200 per hour. Voted (6-1) Ms. Weintraub against.
A motion was made by Mr. Devine, seconded by Mr. Goff, to adjourn the meeting at 12:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
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