The Stevensville Town Council had an item on its Thursday night agenda to discuss and possibly decide “to hold a Committee of the Whole meeting for the purpose of discussing the Mayor’s Employee Reorganization Plan and its implementation.” Instead, the council decided on the spot to rescind the plan. Then on Friday morning, town clerk Audree Tribbensee resigned.
The Mayor presented his plan to the Council, which involved a couple of new job descriptions and the hiring of some new personnel, and the council agreed by consensus at its January 10 meeting to move forward with the plan.
Councilor Robin Holcomb started the discussion by saying, “With everything I have found, I move we rescind the Mayor’s Employee Reorganization Plan… We don’t approve their hiring and salaries. The Council has the power to fix compensation and prescribe duties for all officers and employees of the town… The council shall by ordinance and resolution determine salaries. So, all of this that you did is out of protocol. It did not follow our ordinance or policies. I move we rescind the Employee Reorganization Plan.”
Mayor Brandon Dewey stated that the motion was out of order since it was not on the agenda.
Councilor Jerry Phillips said that he was especially concerned because he understood it had already been implemented.
Holcomb said that she asked the mayor to put the plan on hold, but said he moved forward to make changes without council approval.
The Mayor said there would be legal ramifications for the town if the council rescinded the plan because a new police officer and a court clerk had already been hired.
“I think the Mayor needs to figure that out,” said Holcomb, “because we didn’t approve the salaries. We didn’t approve any job descriptions. We asked for it to be put on hold ‘til we could figure this out. This is not on us. This is on the mayor. We didn’t know we had a Court Clerk for four weeks until a few days ago. We didn’t even know we had a new police officer until we got the email that he was being sworn in. This is the stuff we deal with on a daily basis. I’m sorry, I can’t approve this. It was done irrationally. It was done out of ordinance.”
Mayor Dewey said he was confused. “At one time, you approved it and consented to the plan. Then the council president conveyed to me that some folks didn’t read the plan in its entirety before agreeing to it. So, you consented, but now you want to take it back? I moved forward with the plan because you had consented to it. No other decision was made by council so we continued. I don’t think it’s fair to expect the administration to just sit on its hands.”
Councilor Stacie Barker said she was in agreement with Holcomb and said to the mayor, “You don’t have the power to adopt job descriptions and what not.”
The mayor said the job descriptions were in the plan and it was approved by the council’s consent.
Holcomb said, “You still need a budget amendment for those salaries.” She said the council did one for the treasurer’s position.
Dewey said it was done in that case because the compensation exceeded what was appropriated.
Holcomb said they were exceeding the budget by hiring two new employs.
Dewey said that the money was in the general fund budget to make the hires.
The motion to rescind the Employee Reorganization Plan was then approved on a 3 to 0 vote. Council President Michalson was absent.
Subsequently, Mayor Dewey has asked Town Attorney Brian West a couple of questions about the decision.
First, he writes, “This action affects 3 positions, 2 of which were hired after the re-organization was given consent on January 10th. How does the administration proceed with any legal challenges that may arise from reversal of the plan?”
Secondly, “The Town Council has taken action without proper public notice. The agenda item that the action was taken under was to allow Council to set a date for a committee of the whole meeting to further discuss the re-organization. Although I informed Council that the action was inappropriate for the agenda item, they proceeded to follow through on the action. The public was not adequately noticed that the council would be considering such action. How does the Town rectify or address these issues?”
Dewey went on to ask the attorney, “If a writ of mandamus or ruling is needed from the District Court either upholding the council’s decision to rescind the plan, or my decision to follow through after consent was given, how does either the Mayor’s Office or the Town Council initiate that litigation and who bears the associated costs?”
Dewey said that he talked to the town’s attorney and was told he would review the issues and give him some response this week. In the meantime, Dewey said, he was advised not to take any action regarding the newly hired employees.
On Friday, April 12, Town Clerk Audree Tribbensee, who previously filed a harassment complaint against some of the Council members, submitted a letter of resignation effective immediately.
In her letter to Mayor Dewey, she apologizes for the short notice and states, “however, due to the continued, relentless harassment, bullying and retaliation actions by the Stevensville Town Council, I can no longer endure the intolerable working conditions and the environment.”
She thanks the mayor, stating, “I am very grateful for the time I have spent on our team and the professional relationships I have built. It has truly been a pleasure working for you and I hope our paths will cross again in the future.”
Dewey, in a letter to council members, announces “with extreme sadness, frustration and great disappointment that Audrey has resigned…” He said it was a privilege to work with her and that her expertise in municipal affairs would be greatly missed. He commended her for doing the “best she could with circumstances outside her control.”
In conclusion, he states, “Considering this resignation, I will not be immediately recruiting for the position until the bullying, harassment and poor treatment of this position by council are addressed. At this time, I cannot in good faith or conscience subject a third employee in a 12-month period to the current climate, which continues to deteriorate.”
ele says
Is this article about a real incident? Or a description of a comedy scene from a play? How many times does stuff like this happen in Stevensville? What’s worse is that public meetings are being held and conducted similar to this one, all over Montana. I personally know of two such counties and their perspective towns. Unfortunately, my local paper, doesn’t even bother to cover all their comedy meetings. Or as good as this one does. To continue. I think it’s past time for consistency on how the MT codes are & will be followed. Along with mandatory appropriate training. And not by the free for all “interpretation” at the whim of whoever is in office, elected or appointed.