Councilors fire Mars Hill town manager
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
MARS HILL is looking for a new town manager, following Town Council’s 4-1 vote Monday night not to reappoint Dan McClung. Discussion of the town manager’s position got under way Monday night with Councilor Sam Mahan, far right, questioning why he had not been informed of plans to vote on the matter and had only found out there was a meeting when McClung told him about one taking place at the Town Office.
During the discussion, McClung appeared resigned to the fact he was losing the job he’s held for nearly three years. Pictured from left are: Council Chair Nick McCrum, McClung and Councilors Nolan Cushman and Mahan.
MARS HILL — The community is without a town manager, following Town Council’s 4-1 decision Monday night to not reappoint Dan McClung, who was hired in mid-2010 to replace retiring Town Manager Ray Mersereau. Present for the vote were: Council Chair Nick McCrum and Councilors Ward McLaughlin, Penny Rideout, Nolan Cushman and Sam Mahan. About two dozen residents were in attendance.
No definitive reason was given at the meeting for the decision except references from councilors that McClung had not met expectations.
Prior to the vote, McCrum noted McClung’s six-month appointment dating back to July had expired.
Mahan questioned his fellow councilors’ actions, noting he “wasn’t aware of the vote tonight.”
“I’m still a councilor. I think the procedure was improper and smells political. I think this action will bring Council and the town into legal action. Personal grudges don’t have any place here,” said Mahan.
McClung spoke on the objectives he was given in July 2012.
“I did what I was asked to do. This is what you handed me in July and asked me to do; I’ve accomplished all on the list and think I did well,” said McClung.
“The only thing that didn’t happen — Council was supposed to have a 90-day review. No review or check-in (was done) until Nick and I discussed this last month,” continued McClung.
McCrum confirmed he and McClung had met each month to update the progress made.
“We went over it this fall,” said McCrum.
Audience member Carolee Hallett questioned if anything regarding the evaluation was included in past Council minutes. McCrum said although he’d met monthly with McClung starting in September, he “didn’t officially report back to Council.”
Resident Steve Hitchcock spoke in support of McClung, noting the town manager had received a good review from councilors in December 2011 as well as a pay increase.
“Then a $63,000 tax payment to a (local) business came up. Dan said it was improper but Council decided to write a check against his recommendation. This was a blatant conflict of interest with some councilors,” said Hitchcock.
“Do you fire a man over these items (a reference to the list of items Council requested McClung address) — over not getting an agenda out when you think he should? You’re taking a man’s livelihood away,” he said.
Hitchcock said the list wasn’t the problem.
“The problem is the $63,000. Councilors want Dan out of position. What will possibly happen is Dan doesn’t like that and Dan files suit, then the town will take taxpayers’ money to hire a lawyer. If Dan prevails, you’ll pay his lawyer and a settlement from taxpayers’ (money),” said Hitchcock.
Hitchcock said councilors should “kick this can down the road until April, when we’ll hopefully have a new Council.”
McLaughlin said there was no point in casting stones at McClung and having stones cast at Council.
“Let’s have a motion to not extend Dan’s appointment and end it here tonight,” said McLaughlin, with Rideout seconding the motion.
“Did he step on someone’s toes and you can’t take it?” inquired a man in the audience.
McLaughlin said councilors were there to make a decision and that’s what they were elected to do.
“I think Ward’s right. You should vote on this and be done with it,” said McClung.
Another citizen spoke, saying, “As a taxpayer, we’re left in the dark as to why this is happening. Why can’t the public have knowledge? As the public, why can’t we know what’s wrong? Sure, we elected you, but why are we left in the dark?” asked the male citizen.
McLaughlin responded, noting it was “a small town and everyone talks. Everyone knows issues that have gone on.”
Hallett noted McClung had “tried to lead you in the right direction and you disregarded him.”
McLaughlin acknowledged that come February he was “all done with the Council.”
“This isn’t a big-pay position. We do what we think is best for the town,” he said. “I’ve lived with my decisions and will live with it today.”
Hallett said it was councilors’ responsibility to inform people but “you haven’t even informed one another.”
Mahan said he wasn’t aware of Monday’s meeting until McClung informed him of it.
McCrum said from the interaction that’s happened, “it was obvious from action in November — treatment and behavior — that things were going to turn.”
“There were no illegal meetings. I’m not sure where that comes from, Sam,” said McCrum.
“How could you come in here to tell him (McClung)? You must have had three votes” prior to the meeting, said Mahan.
McCrum said councilors had a “good idea from what transpired in November.”
A man in the audience asked why councilors couldn’t wait until April, when new people might have a different opinion on the matter.
Another male citizen said, “We vote for you. The majority of people in town don’t want it to happen. Whether personal or over potatoes, that’s in the past,” he said. “Let it go.”
With discussion concluded, councilors voted 4-1 to not reappoint McClung, with Mahan the sole vote in opposition.
Councilors then moved on to naming an interim manager.
“The town needs a town manager,” said McCrum.
“You have one lined up; there are rumors all over town,” said Mahan, as McCrum tried to interrupt. “I have a right to say what I want to say. You’re chair and will say what you’re going to say.”
McCrum requested nominations, with McLaughlin nominating former Town Manager Mersereau to serve as interim manager.
“I’ve spoken to Ray and he’s willing to step in as interim,” said McCrum. Cushman seconded the motion, which led to a 4-1 vote in favor of naming Mersereau as interim town manager.
“We’ve got a town manager,” said Mahan as he voted in opposition.
Several residents expressed concerns the town could be in for a legal battle, with at least one man noting the $500,000 McClung helped the town recover from a dormant retirement account might now end up being used for legal fees rather than to benefit the community.
Council will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at the Town Office on Main Street to swear in the interim town manager and handle related business.
