On Friday afternoon, Mayor Deborah Cochran announced that she had called a special meeting of the board for Monday at 2 p.m. in the Municipal Building.
Dean Brown, one of the five city commissioners, declined to comment Friday on whether the board has any particular individuals in mind whom it will consider for the interim post.
In the meantime, Barbara Jones, assistant city manager, will oversee the day-to-day activities of city government, Brown said.
Brookshire’s resignation came Thursday night after Brown and the other commissioners had adjourned to a closed session at the end of a board meeting to discuss a “personnel matter” that had been scheduled several days earlier.
The city manager was excluded from that session, although no one will confirm that the board was discussing any aspect of the job performance of Brookshire, who served in that position for nearly nine years.
After the board attempted to reconvene to open session about an hour later, Brookshire requested that he be allowed to address it behind closed doors, triggering a second closed session during which he submitted his resignation via a letter.
“He had the letter ready,” Brown said of the short, typed document submitted to the commissioners.
Attempts to obtain a copy of that letter were unsuccessful Friday. “Don did not formally deliver his resignation letter to the city,” according to Cochran. “He kept it.”
The mayor declined to say whether the letter simply stated Brookshire’s intent to resign or if it contained any type of monetary or other consideration concerning his departure.
Board members subsequently accepted Brookshire’s resignation, which Commissioner Jon Cawley has said came as a “complete surprise” to him.
“This was a mutual decision, and all of the parties remain on good terms,” Cochran said in a statement issued Friday afternoon.
Brookshire’s sudden departure was a hot topic of conversation Friday around town.
“It was a surprise,” Steve Talley, owner of a frame shop on North Main Street, said of the reaction by him and others he had spoken to Friday. “That was the general consensus. It was shocking.
“It’s a tough position, to say the least,” Talley said of the city manager’s job, “and he (Brookshire) has to do what’s right for him. And I hope the decision he made was good for him.”
The mayor’s statement praised the service Brookshire has rendered to the city since he came to work in April 2001, a period of industry closings and other challenges. “He is recognized for his professionalism and breadth of experience in local government management,” Cochran’s statement said of Brookshire.
“As our city manager, Mr. Brookshire helped guide Mount Airy through a period of growth and through several difficult transitions. As mayor, I am grateful for the service and leadership that Don Brookshire was able to provide and wish him the best in his next endeavor.”
Brookshire has declined publicly to specify why he resigned. His only comment to The Mount Airy News Thursday night in regard to what had transpired was “stuff happens.”
His salary was $91,752 a year and Brookshire also worked under a contract which included severance package provisions, but Brown indicated Friday that it is unclear whether any payout of city funds will accompany the manager’s departure.
But the commissioner said the board will comply with any applicable provisions. “We certainly will respect his contract.”
Brown added that meetings had been held with municipal employees Friday assuring them that their jobs would be secure and officials are working toward a smooth transition.
Monday’s special meeting of the commissioners will be held in the downstairs conference room of the Municipal Building on South Main Street. Since it involves a personnel matter, much of the session is expected to be conducted behind closed doors.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.
Post a Comment
