LEWISTON — Councilors shocked a room full of constituents and city staff Tuesday night by firing City Administrator Jim Bennett after two executive sessions.
Councilors voted 5-2 to buy out Bennett's contract, paying him a full year's salary and health benefits. Only brothers Tom and Nelson Peters, councilors in Wards 1 and 2, voted against the motion to end Bennett's contract.
Bennett disappeared into his office immediately after the vote, emerging later to leave. He was accompanied by former City Councilors Mark Paradis, Renee Bernier and Normand Rousseau.
Councilors gave no reason for their decision. They pre-empted a previously scheduled executive session before their regular meeting to meet with the city attorney to discuss Bennett's contract. They came out of that session at 7 p.m. and immediately went back behind closed doors to continue their conversation.
They came out 20 minutes later and announced their decision.
Bennett said councilors were perfectly within their rights.
"It is consistent with the contract," Bennett said. He said he planned to come back to City Hall on Wednesday to clear out his office.
Mike Blais of Webster Street called the council's action "ugly."
"I didn't agree with everything Jim Bennett did, but he was very professional and very successful," Blais said. "He worked for his city for eight years, but tonight he walked out with his tail between his legs because five of you voted. If I treated my employees that way, shame on me. And shame on you."
Daryn Slover/Sun Journal
City Administrator Jim Bennett, center, talks with supporters after being fired by the Lewiston City Council on Tuesday evening.
Report a correction
I cannot imagine any council
I cannot imagine any council member having a knee jerk reaction as it is eluded to in previous posts. I trust that they are acting in the best interest of the city. Why else would 5 councilors agree?
Has it ever occurred to anyone that personnelle matters are confidential? And that there may be many "behind the scenes" information that the public is unaware of? People should not judge what they do not know.....
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Wonder who is next?
Wonder who is next?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Maybe now is the time to be
Maybe now is the time to be looking for one visionary manager to bring the community together as one city.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Maybe Glen Aho can takeover
Maybe Glen Aho can takeover both cities... scary thought!
Why no details about why they fired Jim Bennett? He must have done something a little bigger than irritate one or two Councilors. That's why we have seven of them, to keep a lone someone with a vendetta in check... five were convinced he MUST go, and go QUICK!! Hmmmm... they can't keep their reasons a secret forever, too many people must know the real reasons for this action. The facts will leak eventually.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.If you can not give reason
If you can not give reason for such actions sounds sketchy. I guess this has come to be what we can expect of them. Why can't we fire them??????????
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.We can. Council members are
We can. Council members are elected officials, another reason to vote (in all elections- not just the big ones). If you're not happy with the decisions they make, then you vote for someone else next time their position is up for re-election.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What? Is this council
What? Is this council crazy?? Seems like some personal vendettas have influenced this group.
As someone who has followed Mr. Bennett's career and accomplishments from afar, it seems that he has done wonders for that city. Sure, every administrator has to make tough decisions, but, I am sure that they were made with the best intentions of the city in mind.
I guarantee that other municipalities are licking their chops waiting to get their hands on this guy.
Lewiston's loss is another town's gain. Wrong move Lewiston!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Only problem was the last
Only problem was the last counsel renewing his contract. This is long over due
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Congratulations to the
Congratulations to the Council. One of their better decisions.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.