News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Four citizens showed up at City Hall Monday morning expecting to hear some kind of announcement regarding the status of City Manager Andrew Gorayeb at a scheduled special meeting.
However, the councilors left their executive session without holding the special meeting or making any kind of statement. City staff were unaware that the special meeting was not being held and they were not informed that no decision had been made.
Mayor Chris Frye told The Nugget that he would have some kind of statement after 10:30 a.m., after he consults with City Attorney Steve Bryant.
The lack of any announcement did not sit well with the citizens who showed up.
Bob Wright said, "I think they should have come out and had the special meeting. If they wanted to hold back, they should have done that, not just ignored the public... they should have followed thorough with this public meeting and if there's no decision, there's no decision."
"I think it's ridiculous that it's taken two months," said Steve Harris. "That's over $20,000 for him to be sitting at home."
Harris, like Wright, felt the council should have held the meeting regardless and "not blow off the public."
Gorayeb has been on paid administrative leave since February 25, after complaints were made by some City employees regarding conduct that was described only as not financial, physical, or sexual in nature. The city requested an independent investigation and received a report, which they reviewed in executive session on April 4. The council met again in executive session on April 7, on Thursday, April 14, and again on Monday.
By statute, executive sessions held for such personnel matters are closed. Media may attend in an observer's role but are enjoined from reporting on the session.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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