By Kristine Thomas
Mt. Angel Mayor Tom Bauman cast the deciding vote Oct. 6 renewing City Administrator Jim Hunt’s contract.
The contract would have expired Nov. 5. The council approved a three-year contract with two months severance pay if Hunt is fired without cause.
The vote was three to three with council members Joan Cuff, Shari Riedman and Bill Schaecher voting yes to extend the contract and Ray Eder, Mike Donohue and Rick Schiedler voting no.
Bauman’s vote broke the tie. According to the city’s bylaws, the mayor only votes when there is a tie.
“I am very pleased that I received a three-year contract with the city and look forward to some very positive outcomes with the council and the city as a whole,” Hunt said.
City council was supposed to decide on Hunt’s contract in September but postponed the decision to allow time for Riedman to research the average severance pay. Riedman said severance pay given to city administrator or manager at 30 Oregon cities with comparable size to Mt. Angel range from no severance pay to nine months.
Hunt had asked the council for six-months severance pay, contending that is standard for members of the International City/County Managers Association.
He explained the duties of his job are more than a typical city administrator and he should be compensated for his work and responsibilities, adding he does more than make sure the city is staying within its budget, managing department heads and working with the public.
After the meeting, councilor Schiedler said he didn’t vote to renew Hunt’s contract because he disapproves of Hunt’s taping of the conversation he, Eder and Donohue had with Hunt in January.
Bauman, Cuff, Riedman and Schaecher are not running for re-election. Hunt said he’s not concerned about the board changing.
