Reporting out from what could be a record-breaking three hour in-camera session on Dec. 17, Town of Erin councillors refuted statements made previously by Mayor Lou Maieron.
The comments in question formed part of the mayor’s Dec. 3 response to an integrity commissioner’s report about complaints directed at the mayor.
During the Maieron’s rebuttal, he made comments that suggested the hiring of CAO Kathryn Ironmonger may have been handled improperly.
The Dec. 17 statement passed by council refuting Maieron’s comments is as follows:
At the regular council meeting held on June 18, 2103, council scheduled the June 25, 2013 regular staff/council working meeting.
Council directed staff to add additional items to the scheduled meeting in order to have items addressed in a timely matter because only one meeting was scheduled for the following month.
Notice for this meeting was conducted in the same manner as other regular meetings of council.
The press and other parties received copies of the agenda via email and the agenda was posted on the website in three locations.
Council has the authority to add items, approve or amend the agenda, which is something council does on a regular basis.
Since January 2013 the agenda format has been different for almost every meeting up to and including the June 25 meeting.
Council offered the CAO/Town Manager position to the Acting CAO on June 4, which was accepted.
(Kathryn) Ironmonger requested a written employment agreement be signed before her appointment was publicly announced.
Council was prepared to ratify the agreement at the June 18 meeting, however council agreed to defer the item at the request of the mayor to the June 25 meeting, with the understanding it would be ratified during that meeting.
During the open council session, council subsequently passed a “vote of confidence” stating the CAO/Town Manager is fulfilling the roles and responsibilities of the position to the satisfaction of council.
Further, council confirmed its confidence in town staff as well.
Council also adopted a “zero tolerance policy” in an attempt to take all reasonable steps to ensure that staff has a safe work environment, free from harassment and bullying.
Part of that included the statement, “council will not tolerate unacceptable conduct.”
